Taxpayers foot the bill for evasion

EVADING tax is one thing, but when evaders eventually get taxes written off because of shortcomings in the system operated

Fri, 27 Sep, 2002 - 01:00

the Revenue Commissioners, it is difficult for ordinary PAYE and taxpayers generally to understand.

Yet, the report of the comptroller and auditor general, John Purcell, which was published yesterday, found that many people who systematically evaded tax will not have to pay up.

In the year 2000, the substantial sum of £104m in taxes due was written off. Last year, the figure soared to £140m.

Not all of that money was written off against tax evaders liquidation, receivership and bankruptcy, for example would be other reasons why the money was not collected.

However, what the CAG described as "substantial amounts" were written off because of shortcomings in the Revenue Commissioners' collections system.

Maybe it was because they were monitoring the Moriarty and Flood tribunals that they nodded, but they have now put in place legislative and administrative steps which should address the problems.