Revenue uses ‘scare tactics’ on families of dead to get tax

THOUSANDS of families are locked in battle with the Revenue Commissioners over tax demands relating to bogus non-resident accounts once held by dead loved ones.

The Revenue has been accused of using strong-arm tactics to extract payment from relatives too scared to challenge the demands, even where they did not know the accounts existed.

Around 7,000 letters have been issued to widows and other surviving family members seeking payment of unpaid tax, interest and penalties totalling millions of euro, and warning of legal proceedings in default.