Two county councils make substantial tax settlements

Two county councils have had to make substantial settlements with the tax authorities because they failed to properly account for staff allowances.

Cork County Council agreed to pay the Revenue Commissioners €475,000 for three years of underpaid returns.

Its neighbouring authority, Kerry County Council, discovered that it had undeclared its bill and volunteered to pay the taxman €89,000 to cover 2009 and 2010.