Another State body makes tax settlement

Details have emerged of yet another State body that has had to make a substantial tax settlement.

The admission by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority is the latest in a spate of public agencies getting hit after filing incorrect returns to the Revenue Commissioners.

The SFPA’s disclosure has brought to €1.3 million the total amount of known tax settlements disclosed by State bodies in the last 18 months.

Last month, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission had its name published on the list of tax defaulters after it was found to have been negligent in its accounts.

The latest arrangement came about because the SFPA had been underpaying its staff for overtime. This was discovered following a review of its payments.

In an explanation filed with its accounts, SFPA said this had been happening between early 2007 and November 2012.

It meant workers got €296,000 less overtime than they were entitled to during this time and the SFPA was forced to make a voluntary disclosure to the Revenue Commissioners to cover the taxes that were not paid.

The back taxes bill came to €175,093 and the SFPA had to pay another €48,285 in interest and penalties.