Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Tax Appeals Commission, TAC, was established in March 2016 as part of the reform of the Finance (Tax Appeals) Act 2015. The vision for the new commission was that it would provide enhanced arrangements for an independent, efficient, well-defined, clear and transparent system for appeals relating to decisions of the Revenue Commissioners.

The commission has a recruitment campaign under way in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service to engage experienced, tax-qualified staff.  I understand it is expected that  appointments of case managers will be made shortly at assistant principal level. However, I am also advised by the commission that the number of appeals it receives now is of the order of 200 per month, which compares with an average of 75 appeals per month in 2016, the year of the commission's establishment. It has indicated that the view of agents and their representative bodies is that the number of appeals is likely to grow further during 2018.  I am advised that with more than 3,600 appeals in its system, the commission is unable to provide the timely and efficient service that it wants to provide. 

We have provided additional resources to the commission. Staffing levels have more than doubled over the first two years of operation.  Where additional resources have been sought to date, no obstacle has been placed in the way of the commission in moving to secure the requested resources.  Indeed, its budget has almost quadrupled between 2014 and 2018.  The commission's Accounting Officer submitted a request to my Department last month for additional staff and resources to meet the increased caseload. This would involve an effective doubling of the commission’s budget in 2018 from €1.626 million to an estimated €3.226 million and it would require extra resources for ICT and new office space. I am considering this submission carefully at the moment and I will make a decision on it very soon.

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