I am advised by Revenue that it has not started a specific investigation of the type described by the deputy but that the rental sector, including businesses or taxpayers operating through online websites, are subject to the same level of risk analysis and intervention scrutiny as any other commercial entity. The risk analysis includes examination of data that is extracted from multiple sources including information supplied directly by the taxpayer or business, intelligence and information provided by third parties in accordance with Section 888 of the TCA 1997, which includes the rental income sector.
Revenue have informed me that when they receive third party data, it is first of all matched against the taxpayer record to confirm compliance and to identify any mismatches across all tax receipt ranges, including rental income. Where mismatches are identified Revenue deploys the most appropriate intervention commensurate with the level of risk involved. These interventions can range from various assurance checks to Audits or Investigations in the most egregious cases.