Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 15 November 2018

Public Accounts Committee

2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 9: Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Chapter 17: Revenue's Progress in Tackling Tobacco Smuggling
Chapter 18: Management of High Wealth Individuals' Tax Liabilities
Chapter 19: Corporation Tax Losses

9:00 am

Mr. Niall Cody:

We constantly look at data sources to see if we can improve the richness of our data. In recent years there have been many helpful developments. We obtain extensive third party information. We receive various data from financial institutions. Significant purchases of property are relevant because there are stamp duty implications and reporting requirements. As there are requirements related to probate and inheritance, we have a picture of assets on inheritance. One thing that has been changing considerably in recent years and that will continue to change is the level of information on international wealth and the international exchange of information. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act governs this aspect of the US financial reporting system. With the common reporting standard of the OECD, it allows for the exchange of financial information held by financial institutions abroad for in the region of 120 countries and tax administrations. It also adds to the process.