Taoiseach acknowledges confusion caused by pensioners' back tax

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said today that he accepts a lot of pensioners have been left confused as a result of the manner in which Revenue dealt with the demand for back tax from .

"I accept that there's been confusion and therefore anxiety and concern for numbers of people ... as a result of the letters that were sent out by the Revenue Commissioners," he said.

"The Revenue Commissioners themselves are in before the Oireachtas Committees this week, and obviously what's important now is that there be clarity brought to this matter as quickly as possible, so everyone knows where they stand."

Around 20,000 people have contacted the Revenue Commissioners’ helplines since Friday, when it emerged that 115,000 people aged over the age of 65 will have to pay extra tax this year after a mis-calculation in their credits.

Revenue have been criticised for the way in which these elderly people were told that hey would have to pay more tax and the body says it will now review its communications campaign.