Revenue crackdown - Sensitivity needed in tax chase

GENERALLY speaking, the public has approved the crackdown on tax cheats by Revenue Commissioners.

But the latest chapter of its assault on the holders of offshore and bogus non-resident accounts has drawn criticism.

According to a leading tax lawyer, widows are being hounded relentlessly. So far, more than 7,000 letters have gone out to the estates of deceased account holders. Essentially, the complaint is that an insensitive, hardline approach is being taken towards the beneficiaries, allegations the Revenue deny.