Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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66. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of cases in which the Revenue Commissioners have found against individuals who failed to declare rental income from renting their accommodation through a company (details supplied) in each of the past five years; the value of income tax that was unpaid as a result; the value of interest and penalties charged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26095/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Revenue have informed me that they are bound by taxpayer confidentiality in accordance with Section 851A of the TCA 1997 and thus can not provide any information that might disclose the tax affairs of any individual taxpayer or business, including in regard to any third party.

The vast majority of taxpayers are voluntarily compliant and Revenue assume that recipients of income from the provision of short-term accommodation have declared the relevant details to them for all years. However, where a taxpayer has not declared such income, Revenue strongly recommend that they do so immediately as continued non-compliance can become costly due to the possible application of interest and penalties on any outstanding tax amounts and, may lead to publication in the Quarterly Defaulter’s List, or possible prosecution in more serious cases.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of landlords or individuals included in the investigation recently commenced by the Revenue Commissioners on undeclared rental income through the use of online websites such as a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26096/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Revenue that it has not started a specific investigation of the type described by the deputy but that the rental sector, including businesses or taxpayers operating through online websites, are subject to the same level of risk analysis and intervention scrutiny as any other commercial entity. The risk analysis includes examination of data that is extracted from multiple sources including information supplied directly by the taxpayer or business, intelligence and information provided by third parties in accordance with Section 888 of the TCA 1997, which includes the rental income sector.

Revenue have informed me that when they receive third party data, it is first of all matched against the taxpayer record to confirm compliance and to identify any mismatches across all tax receipt ranges, including rental income. Where mismatches are identified Revenue deploys the most appropriate intervention commensurate with the level of risk involved. These interventions can range from various assurance checks to Audits or Investigations in the most egregious cases.