€2.1bn owed in unpaid taxes by 300,000 people

THE Revenue Commissioners are facing a growing battle to tackle tax evasion, outstanding taxes and the black market, the Government’s public finances watchdog has warned.

A total of €2.1bn was owed in unpaid taxes at the end of March this year, a sum that has almost doubled in four years. Most of those with outstanding liabilities — almost 300,000 taxpayers — owed less than €6,000 each but 6,396 individuals each owed over €480,000.

Unpaid VAT, amounting to €588 million, was Revenue’s biggest problem, followed by outstanding self-employed income tax, of which €468m was owed.