The delay in the issuing of Tax Credit Certificates has presented practical problems, not least of which is the jamming of the PAYE Lo-Call enquiry numbers.

We understand from Revenue that systems difficulties delayed the issue of the certificates, and the issue process fell several days behind the position from last year. Somewhat unusually, the Minister for Finance adverted to the problem during the Committee Stage debate, and commented as follows on Tuesday 21 February:

• “The bulk issue of tax credit certificates to employees is well under way, with 1.6 million of over 2 million certificates already issued. The full issue will be completed by the end of this week at the latest.”