Revenue Commissioners Audits

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 June 2019

Thursday, 27 June 2019

Ceisteanna (43)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

43. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of revenue audits undertaken by the Revenue Commissioners in each of the years since 2016; the amount of additional tax liability, interest and penalties notified by way of assessment to the taxpayer as a result; the amount of extra tax, interest and penalties collected by profession, trade and sector in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27280/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

I am advised by Revenue that its intervention options range from light touch Aspect Queries through to Investigations for cases of suspected serious tax and duty evasion. The intervention type used in any case is dependent on the level of risk identified and the taxpayer behaviour involved. Full details of Revenue’s suite of compliance interventions are set out in Chapter 2 of the Code of Practice for Revenue Audit and other Compliance Interventions, which is included for the Deputy’s information.

Table 1 below provides an overview of completed audits and investigations for the years 2016 to 2018, including the additional yield involved. Yield includes tax, interest and penalties as well as amounts referred for debt collection/enforcement action (Sheriff, Court Action, Attachment). Table 2 below provides a summary of the sectors that were audited/investigated in the relevant years, presented in alphabetical order.

Table 1. Audit and Investigation Activity

Intervention	Completed 2018	Yield €m	Completed 2017	Yield €m	Completed 2016	Yield €m
Comprehensive Audits/Investigations	2,696	119.5	2,978	111.2	3,703	128.4
Multi Tax/Duty Audits	648	27.8	775	28.1	735	27.7
Single Tax /Duty/ Issue/Transaction Audits	1,391	108.3	1,533	64.5	1,773	102.5
Total Audit/Investigations	4,735	255.6	5,286	203.8	6,211	258.6

Table 2: Summary of Selected Sectors

Sector	Number 2018	Yield €m	Number 2017	Yield €m	Number 2016	Yield €m
Accounting, Bookkeeping and Auditing Activities	52	2.64	63	4.39	95	2.87
Construction	556	22.87	797	29.70	1,065	27.35
Doctors	104	6.24	137	6.82	84	5.00
Legal Activities	72	1.69	59	1.67	65	3.12
Pubs	144	5.62	149	3.22	188	2.77
Rental	326	12.83	432	24.21	411	22.39
Restaurants and Fast Food Outlets	180	5.23	148	9.46	153	5.06
Retailers	382	13.99	361	13.46	501	20.79
Wholesalers	335	15.23	326	8.12	350	9.97
Other Sectors	2,584	169.26	2,814	102.75	3,299	159.28
Total	4,735	255.6	5,286	203.8	6,211	258.6

In addition, Revenue carried out 270,617 lighter touch Aspect Queries and Profile Interviews over the course of 2016, 2017 and 2018, which yielded €274 million, €267 million and €298 million respectively.