Small supermarket operator makes €1.6m tax settlement

Ji Rong Zheng makes largest settlement on latest defaulters’ list

The shutters were down at 157 Parnell Street in Dublin today. Photograph: David Sleator/The Irish Times
The shutters were down at 157 Parnell Street in Dublin today. Photograph: David Sleator/The Irish Times

The operator of a small supermarket on Dublin’s Parnell Street, Ji Rong Zheng, made a tax settlement of €1.59 million after a Revenue audit, according to the latest tax defaulters’ list.

The supermarket proprietor, with an address at 157 Parnell Street, Dublin 1, had to pay €836,657 in unpaid VAT and income tax, and a further €169,083 in interest and penalties.

The settlement is one of 126 in the latest quarterly settlement list, with the total value of the settlements coming to €20.5 million.

Taxi drivers, the operators of cafes and restaurants, landlords, building contractors and farmers are amongst the professions that feature on the list.

Gary Hansard, a musician and landlord with an address in Lucan, Co Dublin, who is the brother of the well-known musician and song-writer, Glen Hansard, made a €45,281 settlement arising out of the underdeclaration of income tax and capital gains tax.

Handyman William Duggan, from Kerry Hill, Shanagolden, Co Limerick made a settlement of €47,259.36 in relation to the underdeclaration of income tax.

Dublin Pool & Juke Box Co Ltd, the operator of the Dr Quirkey's amusement emporium on O'Connell Street, Dublin, made a €803,485 settlement arising from the underdeclaration of VAT. The company is owned by Richard Quirke, the businessman who wants to develop a large casino in Co Tipperary.

Ronald Byrne, a taxi driver with an address in Ballyfermot, Dublin, made a €83,928 settlement arising from the undeclaration of income tax while John Freeman, a taxi driver with an address in Walkinstown, Dublin, made a settlement of €69,943, arising from the same tax. Both men, as taxi operators with an address at Lower Dorset Street, made a settlement of €338,696 arising from the underdeclaration of VAT and PAYE/PRSI.

Paul Kennedy, a farmer with an address in Kildimo, Co Limerick, made a €619,882 settlement arising from undeclared income tax. McStay Furniture Ltd, with an address on Sarsfield Road, Wilton, Cork, made a €602,994 settlement arising from the underdeclaration of VAT and PAYE/PRSI.

  • From maternity leave to remote working: Submit your work-related questions here

  • Listen to Inside Business podcast for a look at business and economics from an Irish perspective

  • Sign up to the Business Today newsletter for the latest new and commentary in your inbox

Colm Keena

Colm Keena

Colm Keena is an Irish Times journalist. He was previously legal-affairs correspondent and public-affairs correspondent