EVERY QUARTER THE Revenue Commissioners publishes its tax defaulters list. It often throws out some interesting cases such as the recent case of musician Sinead O’Connor and others such as the tax lecturer who paid up for not declaring his taxes.

However, it’s been revealed the list of tax defaulters and the amount of settlements published by Revenue does not mean that the taxpayers concerned have actually paid their outstanding taxes in full.

Of the €41.1 million in settlements published to date in 2016, only €20.3 million has been paid in full.

Of the 189 cases published in the first two quarters of this year, just 71 cases have been paid in full.

The Revenue Commissioners publish a list of tax defaulters every quarter with details of those taxpayers with whom they have reached a settlement. The publication of this list contains the original amount of taxation owed plus interest and penalties.

No way of knowing who has paid in full 

“However when these settlements are published there is no way of knowing whether or not the published amount has been paid in full or whether a reduced sum has been paid, or in many cases nothing at all,” said Fianna Fáil TD for Laois Sean Fleming.

“People will be surprised by this as it is generally assumed that those whose tax settlements are published are paying the full amount due to the Revenue Commissioners,” he said.

Fleming said he has raised the matter with Finance Minister Michael Noonan.

It’s understood the issue will be dealt with in the Finance Bill which is currently going through the Dáil.

The minister has indicated that publication notices in future will indicate the payment status in relation to published tax settlements.

Read: Sinéad O’Connor on tax defaulters list over €160k settlement>

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