Revenue criticised for leniency on defaults

The Revenue Commissioners were taken to task for possible undue leniency in settling cases with a number of defaulters and failing to apply sufficient penalties and interest.

In one case, Revenue estimated a taxpayer could owe as much as €54m in unpaid capital gains tax plus interest and penalties but accepted a settlement offer of €15m with no penalties applied.

The Comptroller and Auditor General, Seamus McCarthy, said it was a matter of concern that there was no evidence that Revenue had looked for a higher settlement offer or had sought advice from specialists on such a complex transaction.