As we await Budget 2011 on December 7, I want to take a look at one of the changes announced by Brian Lenihan in his budget speech for Budget 2010, the creation of the Universal Social Charge. Originally this was to “replace employee PRSI, the Health Levy and the Income Levy”, however this is now unlikely given the time constraints and it will simply combine the Health and Income Levies. I think it is fairly safe to assume that the Universal Social Charge will operate as a “super” Income Levy, that is with new increased rates and adjusted bands. PRSI will be as before but less the Health Levy.