Vol. 466 No. 4
33 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Finance the total amount of outstanding taxes due to the Revenue Commissioners; if he will give a breakdown of outstanding taxes under each tax heading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11582/96]
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the latest published figures for outstanding taxes were included in the 1994 annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts and show the position regarding uncollected taxes at 31 May 1995. The 1994 report showed a total of £2,057 million in outstanding taxes.
The breakdown of this amount is as follows: income tax, excluding PAYE £684 million; VAT, £529 million; PAYE, £260 million; PRSI, £253 million; corporation tax, £268 million; capital gains tax, £54 million; residential property tax, £4 million; capital acquisitions tax, £3 million and abolished taxes £2 million.
I would point out that the £2,057 million contains a high level of unreal debt due to the presence of estimated tax liabilities from the pre self-assessment era, as well as tax liabilities for cases in liquidation and for cases that have ceased to trade. These factors are taken into account when forecasting the amount of tax likely to be collected. The amount likely to be collected at 31 May 1995 is just over £500 million.
I should mention also that the Revenue Commissioners have undertaken a number of successful measures in the last few years to improve their administration of the taxation system. Among those measures were steps to improve the collection of current taxes as well as a concerted effort to address the issue of arrears of taxes due to the Exchequer. This action has resulted in a reduction of the stated amount of outstanding taxes from £2,984 million at 31 May 1990 to £2,057 million at 31 May 1995.
