Can Government Departments check what ordinary people have in their bank accounts?

sweettooth14 · 14-03-2013 1:10pm #1

Do Government Departments have the authority to check what ordinary people (tax compliant) have in their bank accounts? <edited at request of op> If there is no possible chance of tax evasion (PAYE worker not claiming any tax credits), can any Government Department (even Revenue) exercise the power to compel a financial institution to give them access to the details of a person's information?

seamus · 14-03-2013 1:12pm

No, at the simplest level.

It may be possible to go to court and jump through hoops to get the information, but effectively no, the government does not have access to banks' databases.

goldenhoarde · 14-03-2013 1:14pm

Can shareholders of a company get to this info?

seamus · 14-03-2013 1:14pm

Information on company bank accounts? No. Generally only the directors and other relevant staff would have access to a company's bank account.

barneystinson · 14-03-2013 2:04pm

sweettooth14 wrote: »

Do Government Departments have the authority to check what ordinary people (not self employed) have in their bank accounts?

Under Section 906A of the Taxes Consolidation Acts, revenue can exercise the power to compel a financial institution to give them access to the details of a person's information, as is relevant for the purposes of enquiring into their tax liabilities.

Can Government Departments check what ordinary people have in their bank accounts?

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