Vol. 562 No. 1
162 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance the response the Revenue Commissioners have received to the letters sent during January 2003 to 40,000 individuals who have been linked to 21,500 bogus accounts, warning that they would not be prosecuted if they paid moneys owed by 27 March 2003; the number of responses received to date; the total amount raised to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5363/03]
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that to date payments of about €131 million have been made by taxpayers who held bogus non-resident accounts and who did not avail of the 15 November 2001 voluntary disclosure scheme. The Revenue Commissioners have informed me that they are not in a position to say at this point what amount of these payments relate solely to taxpayers to whom the 20 January 2003 inquiry letter was issued. However, the Revenue Commissioners have indications that it is likely that a large number of payments will be made to them around the 27 March 2003 deadline.
The Revenue Commissioners inform me that in recent weeks tax offices have been contacted by many recipients of the 20 January 2003 letters who are indicating their intention to make payments by the deadline of 27 March 2003 and it has been clarified that some others have no further tax liability.
Given the ongoing contact and the variety of responses, the Revenue Commissioners advise me that a firm estimate of the number of responses is not available at this point.
