A further 20,000 letters were sent out by the Revenue Commissioners yesterday to people connected with 10,000 non-resident accounts it believes may be bogus.

Another 7,000 letters in relation to a further 3,000 accounts are scheduled to be sent out on October 13th and two more tranches of letters by the end of January, 2004.

After October 13th, the Revenue will have issued inquiry letters in relation to approximately 149,000 accounts. It is likely to receive information concerning more suspect accounts by the end of January, 2004.

The letters enquire of the people to whom they are addressed as to whether they have a tax liability connected with the account. Most people contacted who have liabilities are admitting the fact, according to a spokesman for the Revenue.

The letters are being sent out as the Revenue receives information from the financial institutions concerning accounts they believe may be bogus.

The information, which is being handed over in tranches and in computerised form, is being passed on foot of High Court orders. Many accounts have more than one name associated with them, such as husband and wife accounts.