Do Government Departments have authority to check bank accounts of Ordinary people?

sweettooth14 · 14-03-2013 1:16pm #1

Can Government Departments check what ordinary tax compliant people-(Paye sector workers not claiming tax allowances) have in their bank accounts?
Surely banks could not be giving out your bank account details without your permission?

Victor · 14-03-2013 4:49pm

Revenue can do checks, but that would normally be part of an organised audit. Your permission not required - they could get a court order, although, I suspect in the case of Revenue, there are other procedures.

Other that the Department of Social Protection, most other departments wouldn't be interested.

Certain transactions may trigger mandatory reporting by the bank, e.g. college student suddenly starts lodging €20,000 a week in large notes.

Fred Swanson · 14-03-2013 5:04pm

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Blisterman · 15-03-2013 10:29am

Since the bank pays DIRT from your account, based on the balance, I'd imagine they'd have a fairly good idea of how much is in there.

Victor · 15-03-2013 12:14pm

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Not necessarily. It's just easier for them to do it that way.

Do Government Departments have authority to check bank accounts of Ordinary people?

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