The State’s tax officials collected €96.6 billion last year, according to figures released by Revenue.
The total included €67.5 billion in taxes collected for the exchequer, an increase of 20 per cent, as well as €17.5 billion collected on behalf of non-exchequer bodies, such as State agencies.
The level of income tax collected grew by more than €4 billion to almost €29.4 billion, while corporation tax collected was up by €3.6 billion to more than €17.5 billion, according to Revenue’s annual report for 2021, which was released on Wednesday.
The report also reveals Revenue spent €488.7 million to collect the cash, with almost 70 per cent of this going on the salaries of tax officials.
The average male employed by Revenue earns €47,800 while the average female earns €42,300. Although Revenue’s gender pay gap has narrowed in recent years, it blamed the continuing difference on having more women in junior grades, while women are also five times as likely as men to work part-time in Revenue.
The annual report illustrates the impact of Brexit on Revenue’s operations in 2021, as the workload of the agency’s customs officials ballooned upon the commencement of new trading arrangements with Britain.
Revenue said its officials received 29.8 million customs declarations in 2021, compared to barely more than one million the previous year. More than 90 per cent of declarations were for imports, as Irish buyers of goods from Britain made up the bulk.
Covid supports
Revenue also detailed the amounts it paid out in the State Covid supports that fell under its auspices. More than €4.6 billion was paid out in wage subsidies to the employees of businesses affected by restrictions, while €479 million was paid to businesses under the Covid Recovery Supports Scheme (CRSS), which compensated certain businesses for lost turnover. Revenue also “warehoused” €2.9 billion in taxes due to the State from businesses. The tax can be held over, interest free, until 2023.
Revenue said it raised close to €1.4 billion in taxes, interest and penalties through interventions by its compliance unit, while it also agreed €30 million worth of tax settlements with defaulters whose names were published by the State
The agency said its officials seized €115 million worth of drugs, with cannabis, cocaine and heroin accounting for the bulk of this, while €67 million of illegal tobacco products was seized in 2021.
According to figures contained in the annual report, Revenue also refused or partially refused close to 80 per cent of freedom of information requests it received in 2021. There were also two protected disclosures made by Revenue whistle-blowers last year.
