Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason a company (details supplied) is unable to receive customer refunds into their account leaving them at an unfair advantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45503/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that there has been an increasing number of PAYE service providers offering to obtain tax credits or tax refunds for PAYE taxpayers. Revenue encourages people to claim their entitlements to tax credits and tax refunds themselves, and has created an on-line service called PAYE Anytime as a free public service. PAYE Anytime is easy to use and lets anyone with a Revenue PIN claim tax credits or request tax reviews that can lead to a refund. A PIN is a personal identification number and taxpayers can apply for a PIN for PAYE Anytime on the website www.revenue.ie Taxpayers can also use Revenue's Lo-Call 1890 telephone service to obtain information and to make claims.

Notwithstanding the availability of these services, a trend has emerged of PAYE taxpayers using the services of an intermediary in claiming refunds. To secure their fees, the emerging business model used by PAYE agencies is to seek to have the refund directed into the company's own bank account, to deduct their fees, and to repay the balance to the claimant.

An application to receive direct payment of client refunds was received by Revenue on 24 November 2010 from the agency to which the Deputy refers. This application has not been refused, and is being considered and will be responded to in due course. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the permission sought will, if granted, be conditional on compliance with a range of terms and conditions.