Hundreds earn €1m — and pay little or no tax

A STAGGERING 639 Irish taxpayers earned more than €1 million in 2004, Tánaiste and Finance Minister Brian Cowen revealed this week. The figures also show that many of these paid little or no taxes.

Mr Cowen told the Dáil that more than 2,500 taxpayers earned more than €500,000 in 2004.

The figures also show that some 21% (or 535 people) availed of tax avoidance scheme to reduce their tax liabilities below 20%.