Revenue Resume Pensioners Tax Hunt

Revenue are once again pursuing pensioners with tax arrears, a year after their Chairperson apologised for causing confusion and distress to senior citizens.

Today’s Revenue eBrief to accountants announced a fresh investigation into pensioners’ tax affairs.

They confirm that they are comparing pensioners’ tax returns against Dept of Social Protection (DSP) pension payments data. They will then identify pensioners who have undeclared or under-declared their State pension income.

This exercise covers the 2010 tax year and prior years.

Revenue are now inviting accountants to review their pensioner clients’ tax return records to ensure their DSP pension incomes are correctly declared.  Otherwise, the provisions of the Code of Practice for Revenue Audit will apply.

These include an obligation for an individual with tax arrears to make a Qualifying Disclosure of their liability and pay the sum outstanding along with interest and penalties.

Failure to do so can leave the taxpayer with increased penalties, further interest charges and possible publication in the Tax Defaulters List.

Happily, the majority of pensioners are exempt from income tax.

If you are aged 65 or older, and your total annual income amounted to less than:

• €20,000 (single/widowed) or
• €40,000 (married/civil partner)

in the tax years 2007-2010, you will be fully exempt from income tax in those years.

From 2011 onwards, these limits are:

• €18,000 (single/widowed)
• €36,000 (married/civil partner).

If you have tax concerns in relation to your pension income, you can allay your fears by obtaining quality professional advice.