Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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136. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of money owing by businesses to the Revenue Commissioners under each tax heading; the age profile of the arrears; and the steps the Revenue Commissioners are taking to engage with businesses currently struggling to meet their tax liabilities. [45953/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Revenue that it reports on the tax debt as at 31 March each year.

On 31 March 2015 the total outstanding debt amounted to €1.69 billion. However, this figure included €701m of debt under appeal to the Appeal Commissioners and €87m of insolvency debt.

The remaining amount of €907 million is regarded as a more accurate indicator of the actual debt that was available to Revenue for collection. Of this amount, €384m was under active enforcement and a further €112m was the subject of phased payment arrangements at 31 March 2015. The remaining €411m was at various other stages of the debt collection cycle, for example  at 'Demand' stage or 'Negotiation' stage. 

The following table provides an aged analysis breakdown of the 'Debt Available for Collection' amount due under each tax heading at 31 March 2015.

Revenue has confirmed to me that it continues to actively encourage viable businesses experiencing cash-flow or payment difficulties to make contact as soon as such problems start to arise to find an agreed way through the difficulties and restore timely tax payment compliance as quickly as possible. The €112m collected under phased arrangements is a direct result of Revenue's approach in this regard.

Age Analysis of Debt Available for Collection by Year of Assessment as at 31/03/2015 (Total €M)