While we're on the subject of deadlines and putting your tax affairs in order, there is the other serious matter of funds deposited in bogus non-resident accounts.

The Revenue Commissioners is dealing with the undisclosed liabilities of bogus account holders in two stages. Stage one is termed "the encouragement stage". It offers significant benefits to account holders who disclose and pay all previously undisclosed liabilities by November 15th.

These benefits include protection from naming and shaming, as well as lower penalties on the tax bill. The names of those who disclose on time will not be published, and interest and liabilities will be capped at 100 per cent of the tax liability.

Account holders who meet the November 15th deadline will not face investigation for prosecution and credit will be given for Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) in calculating tax on undisclosed deposit interest.

Last week, the presidents of the State's three main accountancy bodies came together to support the efforts of the Revenue Commissioners to collect "underlying" tax on those funds. The tax practitioners were unequivocal in their statement, saying that those who believe the heat will be off them after November 15th are very much mistaken.

Stage two of the Revenue's approach is the enforcement stage, which will begin after November 15th.

It will involve the Revenue going to the banks and building societies and using powers given by the 1999 Finance Act to complete its lists of bogus non-resident account holders. Many of them have already been identified in the course of the DIRT look-back audits.

The official policy of the Revenue is that it will ensure that each identified bogus account holder who has not taken the opportunity to disclose and pay voluntarily by the November deadline will be individually investigated.

"Bogus account holders should be in no doubt about Revenue's commitment and determination to identify them after November 15th, and to investigate those who have not disclosed and paid."

The message from the tax practitioners, according to the accountancy bodies, is to come forward and avail of the Revenue's offer.

"Bogus account holders have a once-off opportunity to make a full disclosure and put their tax affairs in order. To ignore that opportunity would be foolish and, ultimately, would expose them to the full rigours of the law."

The Revenue estimates that there are between 25,000 and 50,000 bogus non-resident account holders in the State.

A spokesman for the Revenue Commissioners said it would direct all of its resources to finding every one of the undisclosed accounts.

"We can and will seek information from foreign tax authorities," he said.

It is accepted that estimates will have to be used to compute liabilities in cases where information is incomplete by November 15th.

The Revenue has published explanatory notes to go with the statement of practice on bogus non-resident accounts.

The publications can be accessed on the website, www.revenue.ie, or requested by calling 01-8655002.

The explanatory notes provide detailed information on eligibility, calculations, disclosure, payment and consequences of failure to disclose.