The State's tax take fell by some €7 billion in 2009 compared to 2008, according to figures published by the Revenue Commissioners today.
Revenue collected over €33 billion in taxes during last year, its 2009 headline results reveal, compared with just over €40 billion in 2008.
Most of the €33,043,17 figure for last year came from income taxes - including the income levy (€11,835,235); VAT (€10,669,652), and excise duty (€4,702,552). The stamp duty take was €929,510.
In 2008, the take for income tax and stamp duty was €13bn and €1.65bn respectively.
Revenue said its special investigations had produced a cumulative yield of €2.59 billion.
The investigations were headed by 14,867 cases relating to offshore assets, 12,175 to bogus non-resident accounts, and 5,486 to life assurance products. Other investigations related to Ansbacher, interest reporting and trusts and offshore structures.
During 2009, there were 10 convictions obtained for serious tax evasion - six relating to tax and four to customs - while there were 114 tax cases and 12 customs cases either ongoing or subject to the court and DPP process. Revenue secured 2,144 convictions for other offences, totalling €5.31 million in fines and penalties.
The Revenue also detailed fines and penalties of €5.31 million, and 2,144 convictions, over offences on issues such as laundered oil, VRT, and excise licences.
In terms of drugs, there were 2,166 seizures of cannabis (herbal and resin) during the year, with a value of €30.2 million; 39 of cocaine and heroin, with a value of €2.3 million, and 5,983 seizures of amphetamines, ecstasy and other substances, totalling €6.3 million. There were also 5,833 medicinal seizures, worth €2.08 million.
A total of €92.1 million in cigarettes and €3.7 million in tobacco was confiscated; there were 392 seizures of alcohol, comprising 96,532 litres; and officials made 34 hauls of suspected criminal cash, amounting to €1.35 million.