John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason a person (details supplied) in County Sligo has received a bill from the Revenue Commissioners for €3,200; if he will confirm that the bill is correct; if he will ensure that if correct, payment can be made on a phased payment basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47153/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I have no role in assessing or confirming an individual's tax liability or in making payment arrangements. These are a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the person in question is issued with a tax return (Form 12) annually as he is in receipt of owner-occupier relief under the Rural Renewal Scheme.

This person incorrectly received a refund €4,215.70 on 2 April 2008 for the tax year 2007 because, when his tax return for that year was processed, his spouse's income details (which he had not shown on the return) were inadvertently omitted. The incorrect 2007 refund came to light this year and, on 18 August 2010, the person in question was informed of the approximate amount of this underpayment in a telephone conversation with the Sligo Revenue Office. He was also informed of the option of collecting the underpayment over a number of years and it was arranged that he would further contact the Sligo office to arrange a meeting to discuss his tax affairs.

As the person in question had not contacted the Sligo office to arrange a meeting, a PAYE Balancing Statement (P21) for the year 2007 issued on 23 November 2010, showing a net underpayment of €3,466.91. The Revenue Commissioners advise me that the option of making the payment over a number of years, previously offered, is still available and the person in question should contact the Sligo office (071 9148614) to make the necessary arrangements.