Sharp increase in Revenue action against Mayo tax defaulters over past five years
A HIGH percentage of tax defaulters in Mayo failed to engage with the Revenue Commissioners last year after receiving initial notices for unpaid demands, The Connaught Telegraph has learned.
Of the 1,966 new cases opened in the county during 2025, as many as 1,388 were referred to the local Sheriff's Office for enforcement, a move that triggers a further fee of €225.
This course of action was taken after multiple reminders or demand notices for outstanding tax or estimates were issued.
The number of cases in which the Revenue Commissioners referred tax liabilities to the Sheriff for enforcement in Mayo has risen sharply over the past five years.
According to statistics issued by the Department of Finance, the number of enforcement cases in Mayo last year represented an increase of 508 on the figure in 2024 when there were cases opened in respect of 1,028 defaulters.
But the hike in the Mayo Sheriff's Office enforcement proceedings is dramatic when compared with 2023 (664), 2022 (533) and 2021, when there were as few as 16 cases.
This rise is not unique Mayo as Revenue had become far more active in tackling tax liability issues since the turn of the current decade.
The number is on course to rise again this year as up to the end of last July, a total of 818 Mayo enforcement proceedings are in train. A further 236 defaulters are involved in negotiations with Revenue in an effort to resolve their issues.
Finance Minister Simon Harris stated: "The important message for taxpayers who receive these notices is to engage with Revenue at the earliest opportunity so that a mutually acceptable solution can be found.
"Where the liabilities are discharged within the prescribed timeframe, no additional enforcement action is taken.
"Where a liability remains outstanding and deemed collectible after the prescribed timeframe, the amounts may be referred to the sheriff for collection – and the sheriff will levy their appropriate fee, notwithstanding if payment was made shortly after the referral."