I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that for the years to which the Deputy's questions relate, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of tax write off between the different categories of taxpayer whether individual, company or partnership. Due to confidentiality considerations, Revenue is not in a position to provide the names of taxpayers who had tax liabilities written off by them.
The annual tax write off for the periods 1979 to 1982 and 1988 to 1992 is as follows:
Year
|
1979
|
1980
|
1981
|
1982
|
Amount Written off
|
€772,937
|
€673,578
|
€625,427
|
€1,368,624
|
Year
|
1988
|
1989
|
1990
|
1991
|
1992
|
Amount Written off
|
€16,629,760
|
€38,261,018
|
€63,654,509
|
€109,046,376
|
€124,236,253
|
The reason for the write off is set out in the following tables. The classification of grounds for write off changed over the years in question and these are reflected in the tables.
|
1979
|
1980
|
1981
|
1982
|
|
€
|
€
|
€
|
€
|
Composition Settlements
|
136,592
|
22,471
|
5,160
|
4,243
|
Compassionate Grounds
|
61,625
|
48,098
|
55,229
|
60,476
|
Miscellaneous: Liability not enforceable, etc.
|
574,720
|
603,009
|
565,038
|
1,303,905
|
Total
|
772,937
|
673,578
|
625,427
|
1,368,624
|
|
1988
|
1989
|
1990
|
1991
|
1992
|
|
€
|
€
|
€
|
€
|
€
|
Compassionate grounds
|
168,875
|
2,825,167
|
1,719,225
|
2,456,943
|
2,425,200
|
Ceased trading — no assets
|
7,078,790
|
8,905,934
|
21,440,797
|
51,391,379
|
63,571,976
|
Liquidation — receivership — bankruptcy
|
4,337,425
|
10,171,872
|
16,785,937
|
18,795,933
|
31,743,452
|
Cannot be traced — outside the jurisdiction
|
5,044,670
|
16,358,036
|
23,708,550
|
36,402,121
|
26,495,625
|
Total
|
16,629,760
|
38,261,018
|
63,654,509
|
109,046,376
|
124,236,253
|
The main reason for the increase in the value of write off over the period 1988 to 1992 was due to a review of tax arrears on record which commenced after the 1988 amnesty. This review which was ongoing over the years 1988 to 1992 led not only to more effective collection of taxes but also, inevitably, to the increase in the amount of taxes deemed irrecoverable.
It should be noted that the amount written off may overstate the actual liability as many of the cases included estimated amounts. Following an examination of tax write off arrangements in place prior to 1997, Revenue received general approval from the Comptroller and Auditor General for the criteria to be used in new arrangements for the write off of tax debt. These procedures are subject to audit on an annual basis and the results are published in the annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General.