Nearly 3,700 bogus non-resident account holders paid over €227 million in tax under the Voluntary Disclosure Scheme from 8,380 accounts, including Ansbacher accounts, according to the Revenue Commissioners annual report for 2001.
Launching the report this morning, Chairman of the Office of Revenue Commissioners, Mr Frank Daly, said some of those named in relation to the investigation into the Ansbacher accounts, could face bankruptcy - or even jail sentences.
He said that a squad of eight inspectors had been concentrating on the affair and payments totalling more than €17.25 million had been paid by 52 people already found to have had Ansbacher accounts.
“I want to send out a very clear message that we will stick like limpets to this Ansbacher investigation.
“We will stick to people who appear to have cases to answer until we get to the facts. We will certainly be trying for prosecutions, but it will be a difficult process.”
The Revenue Commissioners report says revenue from the DIRT investigation now stands at €447 million, with an additional €37.22 million from the investigation into National Irish Bank schemes.
Following the establishment of a dedicated Prosecutions Division last year - created to enhance the Revenue’s effectiveness in serious tax and customs fraud investigations - four prison sentences were handed down for serious tax evasion. There were 74 convictions for smuggling - including one prison sentence - 1,101 convictions for failures to file tax returns and 169 of unlicensed trading.
Mr Daly said his office had collected more tax than ever and substantial progress was being made on the investigation of other offences.
Additonal reporting PA