Revenue Powers

1. Revenue Powers Conor Kennedy Law Library, Four Courts, Dublin 7.

2. Revenue Powers Group • Set up in March 2003 • Terms of reference • To enquire on main statutory powers available to Revenue • To advise Minister as to • Effectiveness of powers • Appropriate balance – need to secure revenue of state v rights of taxpayers • Need for further powers? • Comparable powers in other jurisdictions • To report on results

3. Revenue Powers Group • Conclusions • Powers in line with international standards • Evidence of confrontation • Legislation should contain key restraints • Legislation should provide safeguards for taxpayers • Commission on Taxation • review the structure, efficiency and appropriateness of the Irish taxation system.

4. Criminal Assets Bureau • Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996 • Identify assets obtained from criminal activities • Deprive or deny persons of those assets • Investigate & undertake preparatory work • Disclosure of Certain Information for Taxation and Other Purposes Act 1996 • Exchange of information between Revenue & Gardai • Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 • Power to seize property

5. Revenue Report 2008 Audits Completed No. Yield €m Comprehensive 3,904 262 Single Tax/Duty 6,074 184 Multi Tax/Duty 2,065 65 Single Issue/ Transaction 1,363 59 Assurance Checks 345,452 63

6. Revenue Report 2008 Tax Customs Total Convictions 15 5 20 Referred to DPP 6 5 11 DPP directions 6 5 11 DPP summons 7512 Total 34 20 54

7. Part 37 - Administration • S.849 • Care and management • S.859 • Anonymity

8. Part 41 – Self Assessment • S.951 • Obligation to make a return • S.952 • Obligation to pay preliminary tax • S.954 • Making of assessments • S.955 • Amendment of and time limit for assessments • S.956 • Inspectors’ right to make enquiries and amend assessments

9. Part 38 - Returns of Income and Gains • Chapter 1 • Returns of income • Chapter 2 • Corporation tax returns • Chapter 3 • Other obligations and returns • Chapter 4 • Revenue powers

10. Main Revenue Powers • S.899 • Inspector’s right to make enquiries • S.900 • Power to call for production of books • S.901 • Application to High Court: Production of books and information • S.902 • Information to be furnished by third party • S.902A • Application to the High Court: Information from third party

11. Main Revenue Powers • 902B • Power of inspection: life policies • S.903 • Power to inspect PAYE records • S.904 • Power of inspection

12. Revenue Powers • S.904A • Power of inspection: returns and collection of appropriate tax • S.904B • Report of Committee of Public Accounts: publication etc. • S.904C • Power of inspection (returns and collection of appropriate tax) assurance companies • S. 904D • Power of inspection (returns and collection of appropriate tax) investment undertakings

13.  Revenue Powers • S.904E • Power of inspection: claims by authorised insurers • S.904F • Power of inspection: claims by qualifying lenders • S.904G • Power of inspection: claims by qualifying insurers

14. Revenue Powers • S. 904H • Power of inspection: qualifying savings managers • S. 904I • Power of inspection: returns and collection of dividend withholding tax. • S. 904J • Power of inspection: tax deduction from payments in respect of professional services by certain persons

15. Revenue Powers • S.905 • Inspection of documents and records • S.906 • Authorised Officers and Garda Siochana • S. 906A • Information to be furnished by financial institutions • S.907 • Application to the Appeal Commissioners

16. Main Revenue Powers • S.908 • Application to the High Court seeking order requiring information: financial institutions • S.908A • Power to obtain information from financial institutions • S.908B • Application to High Court seeking order requiring information: associated institutions • 908C • Search warrants

17. Revenue Powers • S.908D • Order to produce evidential material • S.909 • Power to require return of property • S.911 • Valuation of assets • S.912 • Computer documents and records

18. Main Revenue Powers • S.912A • Information for tax authorities in other territories • Section 912B • Questioning of Suspects in Garda Siochana Custody in certain circumstances • Chapter 5 • Capital Gains tax returns • Chapter 6 • Electronic transmission of returns of income

19. Part 42 – Collection and Recovery Powers • S.968 • Judgements for recovery of income tax • S.969 • Duration of imprisonment • S.971 • Priority of income tax over other debts • S.972 • Duty of employers

20. Part 47 – Penalties • S.1052 • Penalties for failure to make certain returns • S.1053 • Penalty for fraudulently or negligently making incorrect returns • S.1054 • Increases penalties • S.1055 • Penalty for assisting in making incorrect returns

21. Part 47 – Penalties • S.1056 • Penalty for false statement • S.1065 • Mitigation of penalties • S.1078 • Revenue offences • S.1078(a) • Concealing facts • S.1079 • Duties of relevant persons

22. Part 47 – Penalties • S.1084 • Surcharge for late returns • S.1085 • Corporation Tax, late returns, restrictions • S.1086 • Publication of names of tax defaulters

23. Tax Prosecution Criteria • Use of forged or falsified documents • Systematic scheme to evade tax • False claims for repayment • Failure in remitting fiduciary taxes • Deliberate and serious omissions from tax returns

24. Tax Prosecution Criteria • Use of offshore bank accounts to evade tax • Insidious schemes of tax evasion • Aiding and abetting the commission of a tax offence • Offences under the Waiver of Certain Tax, Interest and Penalties Act 1993

25. Decision to Prosecute • Strength of available admissible evidence • Period of time since offence • Likely length & expense of trial • Need for a deterrent • Whether a full disclosure of irregularities made