DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's finance minister said on Monday the country's tax office would not force firms to pay interest on taxes deferred during the COVID-19 pandemic and allow extra time to repay the debt once they keep on top of current liabilities.
The government introduced the tax warehousing scheme in May 2020 and firms that had deferred liabilities that arose during one of Europe's toughest lockdown regimes had already been given extra time until May 2024 to enter into repayment arrangements.
The tax office said that 5,265 taxpayers were responsible for the bulk of the warehoused debt – 1.5 billion euros – and that almost 70% of the firms with deferred debts owe less than 5,000 euros each.
Business insolvencies in Ireland rose 32% year on year in 2023, but were still below pre-pandemic levels.
Accounting firm PwC, which compiled the figures, expects a similar rise in 2024 and a return to the 20-year average of annual closures.
Persons:
Michael McGrath, McGrath, Padraic Halpin, David Evans
Organizations:
DUBLIN, Reuters, Ireland's, insolvencies
Locations:
Ireland