Universal Social Charge (USC)
Standard rates and thresholds of USC
The standard rates and thresholds of USC are:
Standard rates and thresholds of USC for 2021
2021 | Rate |
First €12,012 |
0.5% |
Next €8,675 |
2% |
Next €49,357 |
4.5% |
Balance |
8% |
Standard rates and thresholds of USC for 2020
2020 | Rate |
First €12,012 |
0.5% |
Next €8,472 |
2% |
Next €49,560 |
4.5% |
Balance |
8% |
Standard rates and thresholds of USC for 2019
2019 | Rate |
First €12,012 |
0.5% |
Next €7,862 |
2% |
Next €50,170 |
4.5% |
Balance |
8% |
Standard rates and thresholds of USC for 2018
2018 | Rate |
First €12,012 |
0.5% |
Next €7,360 |
2% |
Next €50,672 |
4.75% |
Balance |
8% |
Standard rates and thresholds of USC for 2017
2017 | Rate |
First €12,012 |
0.5% |
Next €6,760 |
2.5% |
Next €51,272 |
5% |
Balance |
8% |
Other rates of USC
Non-PAYE income above €100,000
There is a USC surcharge of 3% if your non-PAYE income is more than €100,000 a year.
Certain bank bonuses
A 45% rate applies to bonuses paid to employees of financial institutions that received financial support from the government including:
- Allied Irish Bank
- Anglo Irish Bank
- Bank of Ireland
- Educational Building Society
- Irish Nationwide Building Society
If the payments are €20,000 or less in a year, the standard rates of USC apply.
If the payments are more than €20,000 in a year, the full amount is at 45% USC.
Property relief surcharge
An additional 5% rate of USC applies to taxable income that is ‘sheltered’ by certain property or area-based incentive reliefs. This includes all of the property-based capital allowances and the relief for residential lessors known as ‘section 23-type’ relief. The surcharge applies to:
- capital allowances made in or carried forward to the tax year 2012 and any later tax year
- any losses carried forward to 2012 or a later year that are due to section 23-type relief.
The property relief surcharge does not apply if your gross income is less than €100,000.
Next: Reduced rates of USC