asked the Minister for Finance the plans he has to introduce a consolidated Income Tax Act.
Written Answers. - Income Tax Act.
32.
As the Deputy has already been informed by my predecessor in response to previous parliamentary questions on this topic, a substantial volume of work would be involved in consolidating the Income Tax Act, 1967 and the related legislation in the Finance Acts enacted since then. It has not been possible in present circumstances for the Revenue Commissioners to allocate the necessary senior and experienced staff to enable such work to be undertaken.
Major changes in tax assessment and collection procedures were introduced last year and will have an ongoing impact on the taxation system for a number of years to come. As the Deputy will be aware from my Budget Statement, these changes are being followed by others, such as the extension of self-assessment to corporation tax this year. Attempting to consolidate tax law when the system is in such a state of flux — even if available resources permitted this — would not make sense.