The Revenue Commissioners have unveiled a new three-year strategy aiming to clamp down on tax evasion.
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A central part of the strategy aimed at restoring public confidence in the tax system was the establishment of new investigations targeting wealthy individuals, Mr Dermot Quigley, chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, announced.
"Revenue acknowledges the damage done to public confidence from the events of recent years and is committed to addressing this issue," he said.
"A central part of the strategy in restoring public confidence is the establishment of new large cases (including wealthy individuals) and prosecutions divisions," Mr Quigley said.
Over 18,000 tax audits last year yielded euro 390 million. Collection enforcement programmes recovered euro 105 million from more than 21,000 cases. Mr Quigley also warned tens of thousands of tax evaders involved in Ireland's DIRT (Deposit Interest Retention Tax) tax scandal to "pay up or else" before a the November 15th deadline.
Mr Quigley said that if people do not come forward, his staff would go back into the financial institutions to hunt the dodgers.
"We will do whatever is necessary, including seeking the assistance of foreign tax administrations, to track down the bogus account holders - however long it takes," he warned.
AFP