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19/02/2002
Cross-border joint initiative to tackle tax evasion
Tax evaders in border areas have been targeted for investigation in a joint initiative by government agencies in the Republic and Northern Ireland.
The Irish Republic Revenue Commissioners and Northern Ireland Customs and Excise have joined forces in an attempt to recoup the massive slew of money lost every year in the illegal smuggling of taxable goods.
The announcement follows the release of a British government report that revealed that more than half of the petrol stations in Northern Ireland are selling fuel purchased illegally in the Republic of Ireland. This practice has resulted in an annual loss of around £379 million to the exchequer.
Tax authorities from the two jurisdictions have also agreed a strategy to concentrate on a variety of business sectors over the coming months. Among the many businesses to be investigated will be sub-contractors from the north involved in supplying hospital and health boards in the wake of suspicions that many are not registering for VAT.
The increase in tax evasion and proliferation of smugglers has been of growing concern to both the British and Irish governments. Indeed, the problem was highlighted at the first British/Irish Intergovernmental Conference in December 1999, and in 1998 it is estimated that the UK Treasury lost £100 million in tax duty solely from petrol evasion. That figure has continued to increase year on year.
This latest development marks a further stage in the campaign to rationalise and co-ordinate taxing concerns along border areas.
Earlier this month, the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) found that 20,000 Northern Irish citizens working in the Republic were effectively being penalised through conflict in payments of income tax, vehicle registration, insurance and mobile phone tariffs.
A series of recommendations have been put forward by the NSMC for consultation.
(GMcG)
The Irish Republic Revenue Commissioners and Northern Ireland Customs and Excise have joined forces in an attempt to recoup the massive slew of money lost every year in the illegal smuggling of taxable goods.
The announcement follows the release of a British government report that revealed that more than half of the petrol stations in Northern Ireland are selling fuel purchased illegally in the Republic of Ireland. This practice has resulted in an annual loss of around £379 million to the exchequer.
Tax authorities from the two jurisdictions have also agreed a strategy to concentrate on a variety of business sectors over the coming months. Among the many businesses to be investigated will be sub-contractors from the north involved in supplying hospital and health boards in the wake of suspicions that many are not registering for VAT.
The increase in tax evasion and proliferation of smugglers has been of growing concern to both the British and Irish governments. Indeed, the problem was highlighted at the first British/Irish Intergovernmental Conference in December 1999, and in 1998 it is estimated that the UK Treasury lost £100 million in tax duty solely from petrol evasion. That figure has continued to increase year on year.
This latest development marks a further stage in the campaign to rationalise and co-ordinate taxing concerns along border areas.
Earlier this month, the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) found that 20,000 Northern Irish citizens working in the Republic were effectively being penalised through conflict in payments of income tax, vehicle registration, insurance and mobile phone tariffs.
A series of recommendations have been put forward by the NSMC for consultation.
(GMcG)
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