Taxi drivers facing Tax audits

dublin | public consultation / irish social forum | news report

Saturday April 22, 2006 16:28

by Liam Mullen - Freelance Journalist

A revenue source has claimed that hundreds of taxi drivers are deserting their jobs, rather than submit to rigorous audit checks being carried out by the Department of Revenue. Rogue drivers have been amassing undeclared income, and under new tax clearance rules established by the regulator when the industry was deregulated, many are falling prey to the new tightening of regulations.

A revenue source has claimed that hundreds of taxi drivers are deserting their jobs, rather than submit to rigorous audit checks being carried out by the Department of Revenue. Rogue drivers have been amassing undeclared income, and under new tax clearance rules established by the regulator when the industry was deregulated, many are falling prey to the new tightening of regulations.
An industry insider has declared: “That many drivers are falling foul of the new rules and are unable to renew their PSV licences” without proper clearance from the tax authorities. The industry was deregulated in November 2000, and since then the numbers of taxis plying their trade on Irish roads has increased dramatically.
The Commission for Taxi Regulation was given sweeping new powers in September 2005, under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 to implement major reforms of the taxi, hackney and limousine services operating within Ireland. It’s action plan ‘Driving Forward’ proposes that no vehicles over 9 years old will operate as a public service vehicle, it proposes a new standardised nationwide fare, and a maximum fare structure that will end the current practice of going off the meter.
Some rogue drivers have claimed that their only income from operating taxis is 4,000 Euros per annum, but Revenue are beginning to crack down heavily on such outlandish claims. In many cases homes are being visited as part of an audit investigation, and rogue drivers are being encouraged to explain their outgoings: costs for groceries, school bills, home improvement costs, and other living expenses that wouldn’t support the claim that low earnings are being achieved.
To circumvent an audit of their tax affairs, many drivers in this position are not renewing their PSV licences, and ultimately are leaving the profession. In some ways they might think they are beating the system, but as the revenue spokesperson explained: “They are only fooling themselves. Ultimately if they go down this road, they’ll have lost their main source of income, and they will still be without their tax clearance certificates.”
This will have a bearing on all their future claims and tax entitlements.

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Comments (6 of 6)

Well done revenue

by pete

Sun Apr 23, 2006 17:02

at last, revenue have copped on and are targeting those who are ripping us the tax payer off , I hope they decide soon to focus on builders and tradesmen who don't seem to want to do anything unless it is for cash and at that they still charge crazy prices, also the publicans need to be targeted for the price of soft drinks which is ranson money for thise who dont wish 2 drink and drive

tax rip off

by benny - i'm a taxi driver

Mon May 15, 2006 06:27

bennyorgan at eircom dot net

did you know that our tax money is going to pay the national debt and not to run the country.the revenue pay the central bank of ireland [a private corp] who pay the special commissioners [ appointed by private investers in uk ] who pay out dividents to the investers.see for yourself just google income tax act 1967 skip down to first schrdule.the same setup as the fed in the u.s.

Re. Central Bank of Ireland

by complete nonsense

Mon May 15, 2006 09:27

Taking too many magic mushrooms, benny ?

The "Central Bank of Ireland" is a state institution established by the Central Bank Act of 1942:
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/ZZA22Y1942.html

The "Bank of Ireland" is a private banking corporation established by public subscription under Royal Charter in 1783.
http://www.bankofireland.ie/html/gws/index.html

Any intelligent discussion of tax and financial matters should not confuse the two.

The Income Tax Act 1967 is available online at:
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/ZZA6Y1967.html

I can't find any provision in that Act which would lead me to conclude that:
"the revenue pay the central bank of ireland [a private corp] who pay the special commissioners [ appointed by private investers in uk ] who pay out dividents to the investers."

Maybe you should get your facts straight.

National Debt Management in Ireland

by the illuminatus

Mon May 15, 2006 19:35

The National Debt in Ireland is administered by the NTMA - National treasury Management Agency established by the Act of 1990:
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/ZZA18Y1990.html

daithii

by daithii

Tue Mar 25, 2008 20:50

Any taxi drivers who are dodging their tax bills and now are leaving the taxi industry wont be missed by taxi drivers and taxi organizations, Unfortunately they just return on the dole and are an even greater burden on us. However i dont think the infastructure of the country is going to be effected greatly by the few dodgy taxi drivers, On the other hand the billionaires that doge their tax responsibilities and are not chased up by revenue could be paying towords a proper health and education service. Tax amnasties weren't aimed at dodgy taxi drivers, no they were aimed at dodgy building developers and dodgy politicians. So if it helps revenue to take our mind of the big fish by realeasing this sort of statements aimed more at the predictable responce from the general public to one of their pet hates taxi drivers, then their getting what they wanted. daithi

Real dodgers

by Ex- taxi driver

Tue Mar 25, 2008 23:52

As an ex taxi driver I think it's disgraceful that the revenue are going after these drivers. It's a tough job with no benefits and you just have to listen to crap all night. If you have a breakdown you spend days off the road and fork out hundreds for overpriced parts and repairs. If you're sick you just have to take the hit, same if you're assaulted or someone crashes into you and you're off the road, the insurance companies rip you off by not paying a proper value on the car. You're completely outside the system so you're not a burden on the state. Also you have to listen to idiots constantly telling you that you are making a fortune and there's not enough taxis because they all leave the pubs at the same time and expect a taxi instantly. But they never open their mouths when there's a huge glut of taxis the rest of the week and you're sitting on ranks half the night waiting for a fare.

Meanwhile all the big tax dodgers, the public service employees who abuse the system and the social welfare spongers are a much bigger burden on the state. But as another poster said it's easy to go after taxi drivers they're a soft target.

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Taxi drivers facing Tax audits

Comments (6 of 6)