The residence rules for tax purposes were last updated in the 1994 Finance Act by the then Government following a comprehensive review of the matter by the Revenue Commissioners and the Department. Prior to this the rules were based on a mixture of statutory provisions, old case law and Revenue Commissioners administrative practice, which was an unsatisfactory situation. The new residence rules set out in the 1994 Finance Act both simplified and clarified the area and were generally welcomed. It is not the practice to comment in the lead up to the annual budget and Finance Bill on the intention or otherwise to make budget or legislative changes.