Vol. 573 No. 5
47 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Finance the average number of tax audits undertaken by the Revenue Commission each month in 2002; the average number conducted in each month to date in 2003; if there has been a decline in the number of such audits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25779/03]
The Revenue Commissioners have provided the following information on the number of tax audits conducted in 2002 and 2003.
The following table sets out the actual number of audits completed in each month during 2002 and in each month up to and including September 2003. Apart from September 2003, when there was a small decrease, there has been an increase in the numbers of audits finalised in each month during 2003 compared to 2002. The figures do not take account of a project to audit returns received in respect of the recipients of share options. A total of 4,022 of such audits were carried out in 2002, resulting in a total audit figure for 2002 of 15,951. Between January 2003 and May 2003, when the project was completed, a total of 1,015 share option audits were carried out. There has been no decline in Revenue's normal audit activity during 2003.
Table: Number of Tax Audits
|
Month |
2002 |
2003 |
|
January |
812 |
860 |
|
February |
865 |
866 |
|
March |
835 |
1,131 |
|
April |
972 |
1,018 |
|
May |
1,113 |
1,170 |
|
June |
875 |
1,155 |
|
July |
1,053 |
1,150 |
|
August |
757 |
852 |
|
September |
1,093 |
1,057 |
|
Comparative Total |
8,375 |
9,259 |
|
October |
1,149 |
|
|
November |
951 |
|
|
December |
1,454 |
|
|
2002 Total |
11,929 |
