Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Finance the average time it takes for the issue of a VAT number and an employer PPS number for a new company starting up a business; and his views on whether in the context of encouraging enterprise and employment a special effort should be made to minimise any delays in enabling such new companies to be fully Revenue registered and compliant. [13892/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that Revenues Customer Service Standards, published in August 2009, state that they will register 100% of employer registrations within 5 working days and 100% of VAT registrations within 10 working days.

The 10 working day standard for VAT registrations takes into account an extra level of scrutiny carried out by Revenue to ensure that the VAT registration is in respect of a legitimate trade. A VAT registration carries a greater risk of abuse than other registration types. 95% of Employer Registrations are dealt with within 5 working days. 96% of VAT Registrations are dealt with within 10 working days.

Revenue is currently developing an online self-service registration system through its Revenue Online Service. This will be available to taxpayers and their agents and will allow them to complete their Registrations online. This new service will further reduce the time and the administrative burden involved in registering for an Employer number and VAT number. This development is scheduled for completion in late 2010.