I am advised by Revenue that the business in question has an extremely poor tax compliance record and has consistently failed to file tax returns and/or pay the liabilities due.
Up to very recently it has not been possible for Revenue to agree any phased payment arrangement with the business in respect of the liability not already at the Sheriff because there were a number of returns outstanding and the full extent of the debt could not be quantified. However the business recently engaged a tax practitioner to assist it with its tax obligations and the outstanding returns were filed in the last few days.
Revenue has assured me that it is willing to agree a mutually acceptable phased payment arrangement for the additional liability, which will run separately to the arrangement already in place with the Sheriff. However any such arrangement, which will include interest, must also include clear commitment from the business in regard to the timely payment of current taxes as they fall due. Discussions are ongoing in this regard.