Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I understand what the Deputy is saying. As he has read in the statement circulated, upon reviewing the preliminary end-of-year statement through myAccount, which is Revenue's secure online facility for individual taxpayer services, employees had an opportunity to complete their income tax returns for 2020, declaring any additional income and claiming any additional tax credits due – for example, qualifying health expenses – to arrive at their final liability. When a liability has been finalised, individuals can opt to fully or partially pay any income tax and USC liability by way of the payments or repayments facility through the Revenue Commissioners in the normal way. Where individuals did not opt to fully or partially pay, the Revenue Commissioners collect the liability by reducing their tax credits over four years interest free. The reduction of tax credits started at the beginning of January 2022. Essentially, the legislation is underpinned by legislation passed in the Oireachtas some time ago. That legislation has not changed and there are no plans to change it or go back to the Revenue Commissioners to reinterpret it.

A number of individuals across the country are in the circumstances described. The legislation provides that any underpayment of tax can be collected over a four-year period. Some people have opted to pay up-front to clear the decks, but the option to spread payments over four years is as far as the legislation permits us to go at this time to ease the cash-flow burden on those affected. There are no plans to change the legislation at this time.

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