Revenue publishes 2009 Annual Report
Josephine Feehily, Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, today (22/04/10) announced the publication of Revenue's annual report for 2009.
The most significant developments for Revenue in 2009 were:
- Net receipts amounted to €33.28 billion, down €7.79 billion against the corresponding figure for 2008, and €14 billion less than 2007.
- Debt available for collection in 2009 was €1,443 million, up from €1,233 million in 2008. Debt available for collection as a percentage of total gross receipts was 2.8%.
- Total audit and assurance check activity yielded €670.3 million from 373,718 interventions.
- An investigation into trusts and offshore structures commenced in 2009. The end-year yield was €17.6 million from 94 cases.
- The number and value of cigarettes seized increased dramatically in 2009. In all, 218.5 million cigarettes valued at €92 million were seized. One operation, codenamed Samhna, involved the seizure of 120.3 million cigarettes, the largest ever such seizure in the history of the European Union.
- Revenue's capacity to counter smuggling was enhanced during 2009 by the commissioning of a second Cutter, RCC Faire, and the deployment of a second mobile container X-ray scanner.
- Revenue made 56,133 automatic refunds of tax with a value of €9.6 million in respect of non-reimbursed amounts paid for prescribed drugs. Over 1,500 automatic refunds valued at almost €760,000 were made in 2009 in respect of tuition fees paid for approved third level college courses.
- Revenue achieved the ISO 27001 information standard for information security management. This standard is independently audited and sets requirements in all respects of security and data handling.
- By the end of 2009, a total of 497,502 customers had registered for our on-line 'PAYE anytime' service, an increase of over 55% on 2008. There were 669,617 transactions through the service in 2009, up almost 41% on the previous year.
- A new e-Stamping System was launched in December 2009 following extensive engagement with the Property Registration Authority and the Law Society.
- The cost of administration as a percentage of Gross Receipts was 1.09%.
- Ireland's Tax treaty network was extended significantly: 7 new Treaties and 13 Tax Information Exchange Agreements concluded and signed; a further 6 Treaties concluded and awaiting signature.
Speaking today, Ms Feehily said:
"Our support for businesses experiencing short-term difficulties is continuing in 2010 where necessary, but Revenue cannot be a banker or a lender. And we must balance that support in such a way that we do not put compliant businesses at a competitive disadvantage.
...Revenue needs taxpayers and businesses to meet their tax obligations on time, and taxpayers need Revenue to manage compliance so that their competitors do not get an unfair advantage. This is the essence of that balance.
...The most difficult internal issue for us in 2009 was undoubtedly the loss of over 500 colleagues in a single year. Nonetheless Revenue staff did great work across all our programmes, which we acknowledge and for which we say a heartfelt thanks.
...Staff losses are continuing in 2010 and consequently, continually organising and re-engineering our services to manage with less, and rebuilding capability by recruitment and training, are key priorities for 2010."
[Ends 22/04/10]
Contacts:
Press and Public Relations Unit
01 6794792 or 01 7024113
Email: revpress@revenue.ie
David Coleman
Media Relations Manager
087 8209968