REVENUE HAS WARNED that those who seek to evade or cheat the tax system will be prosecuted using ‘all the powers at their disposal’.

This comes in response to a ruling last week at Trim Circuit Court, where Alan Barrett of Ashbourne, Co Meath was handed a sentence of three and a half years imprisonment, with twelve months suspended, in a Revenue prosecution case.

Barrett, who was director and secretary of Event Elephant Ltd, had pleaded guilty to VAT fraud and tax evasion totalling over €1.07 million, on one charge of filing an incorrect return of personal Income Tax, and nine charges of filing incorrect returns on behalf of Event Elephant Ltd.

These included:

• Four charges of consenting and conniving to file incorrect VAT returns on behalf of Event Elephant Ltd
• Four charges of consenting and conniving to claim or obtain relief, exemption or repayment of VAT on behalf of Event Elephant Ltd
• One charge of consenting and conniving to fail without reasonable excuse to keep or retain books and records for the purposes of PAYE/PRSI on behalf of Event Elephant Ltd.

The company, with an address at Joyce House Holles Street, is currently in liquidation.

Revenue Commissioner Liam Irwin said that although the vast majority of taxpayers comply with their tax and duty obligations, there was a warning for the small minority who don’t want to pay, or who choose to cheat:

Revenue’s response to serious cases of non-compliance is robust and determined. We use all the powers at our disposal, up to and including criminal prosecution, and the consequences for individuals can be very grave.

Referring to the Revenue prosecution, Irwin said:

“Revenue operates on the presumption of honesty. However, anyone who engages in evasion can expect a strong Revenue response.

“This outcome reflects the seriousness and unacceptability of tax and duty evasion.”

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