Technical error sees Revenue ask foreign businesses for millions of euro

The issue relates to the new ‘VAT Moss’ system.

More #vatmoss fun. Ireland think we owe them 10000 euros. pic.twitter.com/WFUxXabmN4
— Rachel Andrew (@rachelandrew) August 15, 2015

Rachel Andrew / Twitter

REVENUE HAS SAID that a “technical error” resulted in around 2,000 overseas businesses being sent incorrect invoices.

These were supposedly for the new VAT Moss system that has been put in place to allow businesses to pay tax abroad without having to register in each jurisdiction.

Revenue has said that it is working to update the system to prevent a recurrence of the problem.

Traders who received the invoices took to social media to express their disbelief, with the error being covered on the WebDevLaw blog. Earlier Alastair Houghton, a member of the HMRC/SME VAT Moss Working Group in the United Kingdom, said that the letters had come from the Irish Revenue Commissioners but had been sent in error.

Just had confirmation; the letters *are* real (thought so), and are the result of a "system error" #VATMOSS #VATMESS
— Alastair Houghton (@al45tair) August 16, 2015

Alastair Houghton / Twitter

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There has been no financial impact on those who received the invoices and Revenue has issued an apology for the incident.

Earlier letters were asking some individuals for amounts in excess of €1 million.

Invoices were mostly sent to customers in the United Kingdom. Other correspondence is known to have been sent to the Netherlands and possibly the United States.

The letters sent out were addressed from Michael Gladney, the collector-general with the Revenue. Individuals were given instructions on where to transfer money to.

Any other letters received from, supposedly, Irish revenue? Pretty certain it's fraudulent, but you know... pic.twitter.com/3MTPopBOZf
— David Coveney (@davecoveney) August 15, 2015

David Coveney / Twitter

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Isn't #VATMOSS just the best?? </sarcasm> This is such bull shit. They can't even get their system right. pic.twitter.com/D7sYV1t6nL
— Ashley Gibson (@NoseGraze) August 15, 2015

Ashley (Nose Graze) / Twitter

Read: Revenue taking money from people who have undervalued their homes

Also: Minister defends plan to take the cars out of the centre of Dublin

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