Powers available to Revenue

filbert the fox

A friend of mine in the private sector was audited recently and felt intimidated by the apparent all encompassing power of the tax official, so as a Residential Investment Property owner myself I wonder if the powers extend to :

1. access to a private dwelling,
2. access to bank accounts,
3. seeking answers to personal information,
4. requiring the production of documents
5. being the final arbiter without the possible appeal to the courts.

These are just a few thoughts - please bear in mind that I am a tax compliant PAYE worker who makes his annual return and never had such an audit , but I'd like to be in a position to be not caught on the hop.
So if you know for sure the answers to the above I'd love to know - BEAR IN MIND that a lot of people could benefit from this information so no guessing PLEASE.

relax carry on

filbert the fox wrote: »

A friend of mine in the private sector was audited recently and felt intimidated by the apparent all encompassing power of the tax official, so as a Residential Investment Property owner myself I wonder if the powers extend to :

1. access to a private dwelling,
2. access to bank accounts,
3. seeking answers to personal information,
4. requiring the production of documents
5. being the final arbiter without the possible appeal to the courts.

These are just a few thoughts - please bear in mind that I am a tax compliant PAYE worker who makes his annual return and never had such an audit , but I'd like to be in a position to be not caught on the hop.
So if you know for sure the answers to the above I'd love to know - BEAR IN MIND that a lot of people could benefit from this information so no guessing PLEASE.

The code of practice for Revenue Audits should answer most of your questions.

http://www.revenue.ie/en/practitioner/audit-code-of-practice/index.html

filbert the fox

Thanks, looks comprehensive and needs a bit of reading...