Vol. 432 No. 3
26 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Finance if any additional staff or resources are to be provided to the Revenue Commissioners to ensure compliance with tax laws; the reason staff numbers are being reduced in the arrears project of the Revenue Commissioners which in 1992 netted £36 million for the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The amount of £36 million was part of a total amount of £57 million which was collected in 1992 under an Arrears Programme in the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. Variations in the number of staff assigned to this and other tax collection programmes will have regard to the relevant work requirements at any given time.
In an overall context, the Commissioners remain committed to tackling entrenched arrears of tax and, in particular, to ensuring that arrears do not arise or accumulate on an ongoing basis. This is being done through promoting a climate of voluntary compliance, by taking swift and targeted enforcement action where required and through the use of all legislative and administrative means to identify and tackle evasion and avoidance.
In the Office of the Chief Inspector of Taxes, there has been a planned development in the administration of the tax system which has resulted in a broad movement of staff from routine administration to compliance, audit and investigation work. This reorganisation will enhance the administrative policies and initiatives being taken by the Revenue Commissioners to ensure and improve the efficiency of the tax administration system.
In addition, surplus staff resources arising from the Decentralisation Programme and the Completion of the Single European Market are being used to enhance and expand the current programmes for collection, compliance and enforcement so as to generate an additional return for the Exchequer in current and future years.
