Tax defaulters made settlements of more than €100 million with the Revenue in the first three months of the year, after audits were conducted on the affairs of business people, farmers and health practitioners.
The money was collected after a total of 2,855 audits, 173 of which were published because the settlements involved were greater than €12,700. The value of published settlements was €21.61 million.
The biggest of these was from Dr Eugene Hardiman, of Roosky, Co Roscommon, who paid €1.47 million for an under-declaration of both income tax and capital gains tax.
Other defaulters included hotelier Corneilius Ryan of Kinnitty Castle hotel in Offaly, who paid €52,059 in settlement of a case for under-declaration of VAT after a Revenue audit. Solicitor Patrick Mann of Tralee, Co Kerry, made a settlement for €94,280 for an under-declaration of income tax and VAT.
The bigger settlements included a payment of €878,707 from Navan-based retailer Beechmount Furniture after under-declaration of VAT, PAYE and PRSI emerged in an investigation into offshore assets.
Gerald P Doran, a landlord based in Dalkey, south Dublin, paid €871,527 for underdeclaration of income tax. Company director Peter Henry of Blue Lagoon in Riverside, Sligo, made a settlement of €734,337 for underdeclaration of income tax and VAT.
Limerick-based farmer and general merchant Thomas Fitzpatrick paid €700,000 for under-declaration of income tax.
A Co Carlow-based builder, Patrick Foley, paid €535,000 for an under-declaration of income tax and VAT that was uncovered by the Revenue's investigation into accounts in National Irish Bank. This was the only settlement from the NIB investigation.
Of the 173 public settlements made public yesterday in the latest edition of Iris Oifigiúl, 105 bogus non-resident holders made settlements totalling €14.46 million.
In addition, there were 13 settlements totalling €2.4 million from the Revenue investigation into offshore funds. A single settlement for €65,395 related to the Revenue investigation into the Ansbacher scheme.
This was made by John Opperman of Blainroe, Co Wicklow, a retired restaurateur and company director.
