Revenue stops imposing ‘death penalty’

THE taxman has stopped imposing the “death penalty”. Dead tax defaulters, or their surviving families, will no longer have to answer for their evasions from beyond the grave after the Revenue Commissioners changed the rules concerning the treatment of dead taxpayers.

On Wednesday, without notice, the Revenue Commissioners issued an update on “penalties involving deceased taxpayers and personal representatives”.

Revenue told the Irish Examiner: “A doubt was raised on this issue and we took legal advice on the matter. We have now acted on that advice and have announced changes in practice, in relation to agreements not finalised at the date of death.”