Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 5

Written Answers. - Non-resident Companies.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

68 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the progress being made in regard to the application of the terms of the Finance Act, 1999 to Irish registered non-resident companies; the steps being taken in regard to the 24,095 of these which failed to reply to letters from the Revenue Commissioners; the steps being taken to trace the 9,389 non-resident companies in respect of whom the letter was returned to the Revenue Commissioners marked addressee unknown; when it is intended to commence striking off companies that have not complied with the requirements of the Act from the register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14268/00]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy):

The Deputy is seeking an update to the information which I gave on 30 March in reply to a question put down by Deputy O'Sullivan. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the position at 19 May is as follows.

The examination of the 24,095 companies which failed to reply to the notices issued by Revenue is ongoing. This list of cases has been compared with the Companies Registration Office list of companies which have been struck off. Also, some further replies have been received from the companies. The number of companies which have failed to reply now stands at 19,537. A scan of the full list involving the checking of the up-to-date Companies Registration Office record for possible changes of addresses of registered offices has been carried out. New addresses have been identified for 2,808 of the companies and Revenue will shortly be issuing a duplicate notice to each of these companies. The balance 16,729 – 19,537 less 2,808 – is included in the list of companies for strike off action.

The 9,389 companies in respect of which the letter was returned to the Revenue Commissioners indicating that the addressee is unknown have been checked against the Companies Registration Office list of companies which have been struck off. After excluding companies which have already been struck off by the Companies Registration Office and adding the small number of letters that continue to be returned indicating that the addressee is unknown the number in this category now stands at 7,994. By examining the Companies Registration Office record Revenue have established changed addresses for 2,470 companies. A duplicate notice will shortly be issued to each of these companies. The balance of 5,524 has now been added to the list of companies for strike off action.

The total list for strike off now stands at 22,253 – that is, the 16,729 which failed to reply plus the 5,524 returned marked "addressee unknown". Some final checks are currently being carried out on this list and final arrangements are being made with the Companies Registration Office for the forwarding of the list and the commencement of strike-off procedures.

I indicated in my reply to Deputy Owen on 10 November that, as well as writing to 38,996 companies incorporated prior to 11 February 1999, Revenue also wrote to 8,397 companies incorporated after that date. In respect of this latter group a list of approximately 3,000 has been sent to the Companies Registration Office for strike-off consideration by the registrar under the Companies (Amendment) (No 2) Act, 1999. Revenue have written to each of the companies on the list advising them of the position. It is expected that the registrar will commence strike off proceedings for these companies very shortly.