Judge urges ‘fair talks’ over €5.2m Revenue bill

A High Court judge has urged a father and son being pursued over “vast” sums of more than €5.2m in estimated alleged unpaid taxes to “engage sensibly” with the Revenue Commissioners.

Sensible engagement is something Annino Forte and his son Corrado, both businessmen and with addresses in Co Wexford, “have not done to this time”, Mr Justice Max Barrett said.

The assessment notices were issued after a Revenue audit in which the Fortes chose not to participate, he noted. They had not appealed to the Appeals Commissioners against the notices as they mistakenly assumed, when it came to being sued by Revenue over the alleged liabilities, they could dispute those liabilities in court.

Both say they do not owe the “vast sums” for which the Revenue now wants final judgement, he said.

It wanted summary judgement orders for €2.7m against Annino Forte, and for €2.5m against Corrado Forte.

In all the circumstances, the judge said he was adjourning the Revenue application and stressed “sensible engagement” was a condition of that.

The matter will return before the judge in two weeks.