Revenue Office threaten legal action against tax dodgers

The Revenue Commissioners are threatening to take legal action against tens of thousands of people who failed to meet last Thursday’s deadline for claiming amnesty on illegal bank accounts.

Only a small number of the estimated 50,000 holders of illegal off-shore accounts have settled their tax bills before the Thursday deadline and the remaining tax dodgers can now expect to face legal action from the Revenue Commission, which has just been given extra powers.

Those found guilty can expect to pay all the interest due as well as full penalties.

Up to last month just £10m in unpaid taxes had been settled out of an estimated seven hundred million. Some of the accounts that were resolved before the deadline were over 15 years old.

The Revenue Commissioners are expected to unveil the final details on the amount that was handed over by Thursday some time tomorrow.