Jobs and tax hit by €5bn ‘nixer’ culture

A “NIXER” culture, a shift towards “cash-only” payments, and an easily abused social welfare system are costing €5 billion annually in lost taxes and are driving legitimate firms to the wall, business representatives have warned.

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME), which estimates the value of the black economy at €25bn, has called for radical government action to protect legitimate jobs and tax revenue at a time when the state is under pressure to reverse the exchequer revenue shortfall.

Specifically, ISME has called for: