Irish tourism-related sales tax to remain at 9%, minister says

A 9 percent sales tax on tourism products will remain in place next year, Irish Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar said today.

“I can confirm that the 9% VAT rate will apply throughout 2012,” the minister said in an e-mailed statement. The government introduced the lower VAT rate of 9 percent earlier this year as part of a jobs initiative.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan said earlier this month he plans to propose a 2 percentage point increase in Ireland sales tax, bringing it to 23 percent.