Reviewing the year as a whole, 2007 can be seen as a year of considerable change, and a year in which some new directions were set for the years ahead.

 

Net tax receipts in 2007 amounted to over €47.5 billion - almost €2 billion above the corresponding figure for 2006 – but for the first time in 5 years, the receipts were below the Budget estimate, by €1.73 billion. The cooling of the property market together with moderating consumer spending, particularly in the second half of the year, were primarily responsible for the lower than expected receipts.

 

Serving Our Customers

A number of new directions were set in our Customer Service programmes, the most significant being the “Helping Taxpayers Claim” initiative, announced in Budget 2007. This has been substantially advanced, including the introduction of automated age-related credits, DIRT exemption at source for qualifying over 65's and automatic health expenses relief for un-reimbursed amounts under the Drug Payments Scheme. In August and September 2007, Revenue mounted a major advertising and information campaign to encourage taxpayers to claim credits and allowances due to them and to promote our PAYE anytime Service. This new direction continues into 2008 with a complete redesign of the key Revenue document sent to all taxpayers – the Certificate of Tax Credits – to make it much more accessible.

 

Another new direction was the establishment of PAYE Customer Panels in all Revenue regions.

 

In June, a new, internet-based system for automatically processing Customs entries was successfully and seamlessly implemented with the cooperation of the trade, and was the first phase in a complete modernisation of Customs systems EU-wide which will take several years to complete.

 

Another first was the award of the National Disability Authority 'Excellence through Accessibility' award for three of our Dublin offices, and we hope to see more offices achieve this award in the coming years.

 

Substantial improvements were also made to the services we provide to our business customers. A new Revenue Technical Service was introduced in each of our four Regions to provide high-level support to practitioners and business taxpayers. Simplified payment arrangements were introduced for a large number of VAT payers and a dedicated LoCall 1890 service for employer queries was inaugurated.

 

Protecting Society

Revenue plays an important role in the ongoing fight against illegal drugs, contraband and other forms of criminality. During the year, our Customs Service made a record 2,758 seizures of drugs with an estimated street value of almost €139 million. 17 seizures of cash amounting to €494,000 were also made in 2007. To enhance our capability in vital work, key investment decisions were taken to purchase an additional Customs Cutter and Customs Scanner which will bear fruit in the years ahead. In cooperation with a number of other EU law enforcement agencies, we decided to assign an officer to the development of the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics which shares intelligence in a concerted effort to prevent drug trafficking by sea.

 

Audit and Compliance

Our strategy in relation to Audit and compliance is to select cases for intervention based on risk, supported by our computer-based risk analysis system, REAP. It interrogates information across a range of systems and enables Revenue to look at each taxpayer across a range of taxes and compare returns made with lifestyle indicators. While still an evolving and improving tool, in 2007 REAP moved from pilot mode to being an integral part of our compliance programmes.

 

Decentralisation

Revenue's contribution to the Government decentralisation programme took a major step forward in 2007 with the opening of two new decentralised offices in Kilrush and Listowel. 50 full-time equivalent jobs were transferred to each of these locations. Since then we have opened new offices in Athy with 53 staff and Navan with 96 staff.

 

Our Staff

The range of activities we in Revenue carry out is enormous, from collecting tax to patrolling the high seas, and these activities contribute in a direct and tangible way to the economic and social well being of the State. What we do makes a difference in the life of every Irish citizen. Our organisation could not hold this central role in society without the commitment, expertise, courtesy and enthusiasm of Revenue staff who come to work every day in over 130 offices around the country. Revenue is recognised nationally and internationally as a public service organisation which is flexible, innovative, fair and forward-looking. These too are the attributes of our staff. We take this opportunity to say a public thank you to our staff for all of their hard work during 2007.

 

The number of Revenue staff at all levels who retired in the past year or so was notable - men and women who served the State diligently and productively, some for more than 40 years. They take with them corporate memory and technical knowledge which we will work hard to replace. We acknowledge in particular the contribution to the Revenue organisation made by Chairman Frank Daly who retired on 12 March 2008. We wish all those who have retired health and happiness in the next phase of their lives.

 

Our mission:

To serve the community by fairly and efficiently collecting taxes and duties and implementing Customs controls

 

Annual Report 2007

Eighty-fifth Annual Report of the Revenue Commissioners for the year ended 31 December 2007, including progress on the implementation of Revenue’s Statement of Strategy, in accordance with the Public Service Management Act 1997, presented to the Minister for Finance. April 2008