The Code of Practice for Revenue Audit and other Compliance Interventions has been updated and the new version, published on the Revenue website, is effective from 20 November 2015.

The main changes from the Code of Practice 2014 include;

• New Paragraph 1.10.5 which outlines Revenue policy regarding referrals of agents and tax practitioners to their representative bodies under section 851A TCA 1997.
• New chapter 8 covering tax law, Revenue policy and procedures for regularising tax and duty liabilities that arise due to certain types of tax avoidance.
• New paragraph in Chapter 5 on anti-avoidance legislation as outlined in Finance Act 2014.
• Additional column to the penalty tables to show the full penalty as outlined in tax legislation separately from the reduced penalty where full cooperation is given.
• New paragraph in Appendix III outlining legislation for a ‘tax avoidance surcharge’.

In cases where notice of a compliance intervention had been given but which had not been settled before the 20 November 2015, the taxpayer can choose whether the settlement is made under the terms of this Code or the Code of Practice for Revenue Audit and other Compliance Interventions dated 14 August 2014 – per Revenue eBrief No. 112/15.

Revenue has also published an Operational Manual which sets out the considerations in relation to referrals of agents and tax practitioners to their professional bodies under section 851A TCA 1997 and the procedures to be followed by Revenue. An an amendment is proposed to the definition of professional body in section 851A TCA 1997 to include the Law Society of Ireland.