Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Revenue has undertaken several major initiatives, including an intensive high-profile campaign during August, September and October of 2006 involving advertisements on radio and in bus shelters, the DART and Luas encouraging taxpayers to claim their tax credits and reliefs. During the summer and early autumn, a leaflet giving details of how to access and use Revenue's self-service Internet facility for PAYE taxpayers was sent to each taxpayer. The facility allows each PAYE customer to claim the most commonly used tax credits, apply for a tax refund, claim medical expenses, request a tax review, reallocate tax credits between spouses and update personal information. It is a totally secure on-line service and each taxpayer has his or her own unique PIN to log in. Revenue has just completed the posting of this year's tax credit certificates to 2.2 million PAYE taxpayers. Accompanying each certificate was a creatively designed leaflet that focused on informing people of their entitlements to tax credits and reliefs and gave them details of the various contact channels to make claims. A further publicity campaign is planned.

There is a great deal of proactivity in this matter, which has been raised a number of times in the House. When I took it up with Revenue, it responded. The take-up of some reliefs has increased. It remains the ultimate responsibility of the taxpayer to claim reliefs, but we can try to ensure they are aware of the reliefs.

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