Tax defaulters - We shouldn’t have to carry the cheats

APART from the €22 million paid in settlement by the Bailey brothers company Bovale, which has been well-documented, the Revenue Commissioners netted a considerable €23.5 million in the quarterly tax defaulters list published yesterday.

Former GAA stars, as well as an optician, musician, solicitor and an inevitable clergyman figured in the list — published elsewhere in this newspaper.

The amounts paid in settlement to the taxman vary and arise because they were due in unpaid income tax, corporation tax, VAT, PRSI, PAYE, as well as some offshore assets, such as those held in bogus non-resident accounts.

What they all have in common, though, is that it involved money that was due to the State, which could not function adequately in its provision of public services and amenities.

Tax is vital in doing so, and any attempt to avoid it does a serious disservice to the country and casts a heavier burden on tax compliant people.

Invariably, there will be those who try to beat the system, but, thankfully, the Revenue Commissioners are becoming more effective in defeating them.