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Irish Taxman Enlists Solicitors To Help Recover Unpaid Taxes

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

16 February 2005

The Irish Revenue Commission announced this week that it has appointed six firms of solicitors to pursue the recovery of unpaid taxes through the courts.

The firms, selected after a competitive tendering process, have signed contracts lasting for a six-year period, and include: Holmes O'Malley Sexton of Limerick; Ivor Fitzpatrick & Co of Dublin; George V Maloney & Co of Cavan; Mason Hayes & Curran of Dublin; Matheson Ormsby Prentice of Dublin; and Pierse & Fitzgibbon of Listowel.

These firms will represent the Revenue in cases where it is necessary to pursue tax payments through the legal system, and it is estimated that they will be asked to handle up to 7,000 enforcement cases per year. This is in addition to approximately 35,000 cases referred annually for collection by Revenue Sheriffs.

According to the tax authority, the activities that the firms will carry out on its behalf will include:

  • Obtaining and registering judgements;
  • The use of judgement mortgages and, if necessary the forced sale of property;
  • Applications for Court instalment orders and the enforcement of such orders; and
  • The instigation of bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings for the most intransigent defaulters.

Speaking at the signing of the contracts on Tuesday, Josephine Feehily, Revenue Commissioner, noted that: "Revenue has made great progress in recent years in improving tax collection. The level of tax debt has been very substantially reduced, and timely compliance has improved."

Feehilly went on to add that: "However there still are those who continue to attempt to avoid their tax compliance obligations. We are determined, especially in the interests of fairness to the vast majority of our customers who are fully compliant, to vigorously pursue those non-compliers. The signing of these contracts is a further indication of our commitment to take firm action against defaulters when this proves necessary."

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