Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2007
116 Mr. English asked the Minister for Finance if he has instructed the Revenue Commissioners to conduct an estimate of under claiming of tax reliefs by taxpayers; and the latest estimate which he has of the extent of the problem. [4137/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have not asked the Revenue Commissioners to conduct an estimate of the under-claiming of tax reliefs by taxpayers and I have no plans to do so.
Revenue are very active in encouraging taxpayers to claim the correct reliefs and have taken a number of important initiatives in this regard during the last year.
I too announced proposals in the Budget and recently in the Finance Bill to make it easier to claim reliefs.
As to the extent of underclaiming a number of estimates have been given to Oireachtas Committees. It is not clear what a survey would add to current knowledge given the inherent difficulties in establishing what people are not doing. Such resources are better devoted to encouraging taxpayers to claim all of their entitlements and making it as easy as possible for them to do so.
