In eBrief No. 10/2009 we are reminded of the incentive to Pay and File electronically.

F(No.2)A08 s96 and Schedule 3 provide that where various returns and payments (including Employer PAYE/PRSI) are made through ROS, then the various deadlines are standardized to the 23rd of the month. This is the authority for the change, not Budget Day announcements. It is important to note that if the standardized filing and payment date is missed, interest is reckoned as if electronic filing measures had never been introduced.

Not that interest would be the main concern if a taxpayer is in the mandatory electronic filing net. TCA97 s917EA provides for fixed penalties for both failure to file electronically and failure to pay electronically. While the category of taxpayers affected by the mandatory environment for 2009 is reasonably clearcut, Revenue's regulations for those affected on 2010 and following years are far too vague for an instrument that will result in the imposition of penalties. ICAI has written to the Department of Finance seeking clarification of the position.

For the sake of completeness, we should also mention that F(No.2)A08 s2 also ensures that Income Levy remittances may be settled under the new “23^rd day” rule.

eBrief No. 10/2009 is reproduced at Section 2.01.