Finance Committee to question Revenue on pension tax controversy

Revenue chairwoman Josephine Feehily and officials from the Department of Social Protection will face questions from the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform on the controversy surrounding pensions and potential tax liabilities.

Committee Chairman, Alex White TD said: “Last week around 150,000 pensioners received letters from Revenue about their tax compliance, with 115,000 being told they will have to pay extra tax in 2012.

We are pleased that Revenue chairwoman Josephine Feehily and officials from the Department of Social Protection have agreed to attend our committee meeting tomorrow to discuss the handling of this issue, particularly the communication of the tax situation for some older people.

No-one will argue with the necessity for tax compliance on the part of all citizens. However, many pensioners are unsure of where they stand on their tax liability, and need reassurance.

At our meeting tomorrow, we will be seeking clarity on the matter, and looking at how this situation was handled. We will question Revenue on its communications strategy, how it may be reviewed, and will see what lessons may be learned for the future.”

This meeting will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, 11^th January in Committee Room 4, Leinster House 2000 at 2pm.

Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o