Emmet Stagg
Question:268 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the delay in issuing a tax refund for 2000-2001 to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25021/01]
Written Answers. - Tax Rebates.
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer's return of income was received by the inspector of taxes on 26 July 2001. A notice of assessment was issued to the taxpayer on 8 August 2001 showing a refund due of £1,252.47 (1,590.31).
The notice of assessment was issued during the peak processing season. Owing to pressure of work, repayments were delayed during this period as the processing of returns was treated as a priority. A new Revenue computer system was introduced in September 2001 to streamline the refund process. The taxpayer's refund was entered through this system on 27 September 2001 but, due to a technical difficulty with the new system, the repayment cheque was not issued. The difficulty has now been rectified and the taxpayer's refund will be issued within the next ten days.
The inspector of taxes is writing to the taxpayer to outline the sequence of events and to apologise for the delay in issuing the refund.