Taxman rejects FG claims of overpaid taxes

Fionnán Sheahan, Political Correspondent

Pointing the finger at both the Finance Minister and the Revenue Commissioners, the party claimed taxpayers are owed E375 million in overpaid taxes.

Over a four-year period, Fine Gael says the overpayment amounts to a substantial E1.5 billion, yet taxpayers are not advised of their entitlements.

Kicking off a campaign to advise PAYE workers to claim health, bin charges, private rents and homecarers allowances, FG finance spokesman Richard Bruton called on the Revenue to be more pro-active in returning overpayment and making people aware of their entitlements.

Calling for the four-year time limit on reclaiming overpaid tax to be doubled to eight years and interest also to be paid, he said ordinary taxpayers must have confidence that the mandate of the Revenue will include repaying overpayments.

Last night, the Revenue Commissioners trenchantly denied there are any rip-offs, stating that the vast majority of PAYE workers get their allowances.

The Revenue also said repayments invariably come from information only available to the individual taxpayer.

Fine Gael enterprise spokesman Phil Hogan said his party was initiating its campaign in the absence of a concerted effort by the Government and Revenue to address the issue.