Few Government Departments escaped the scrutiny of an Bord Snip Nua, and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners was no exception. While Revenue’s efforts to deliver electronic services was noted positively, the Bord has challenged it on its number of office locations and level of expenditure. Though escaping recommendations for cuts, the Office of the Appeal Commissioners was challenged on its service delivery.

Without prejudice to their appropriateness or otherwise, the recommendations for Revenue in the Report, along with projected associated costs are as follows:

• Examine scope for further efficiencies – €10.0m
• IT Efficiencies – €8.6m
• Efficient use of consumables – €5.0m
• Savings in legal services – €1.0m
• Review the number of regional office locations – €2.0m
• Total Current Savings €26.6m, and associated staffing reductions of 350.

By way of context, the report notes that the 2009 current allocation for the Office of the Revenue Commissioners is €456m and it employs 6,599 staff

An Bord Snip Nua has recommended that “all decisions of the Appeal Commissioners are published electronically, without undue delay and no later than one month after a decision is made.” In this, it seems to have concurred with calls made on many occasions by ICAI and the other accounting bodies through CCAB-I in recommending the early publication of determinations. The report goes on “In addition, the Commissioners should develop and publish timelines for the conduct of the various stages of the appeal process. This will ensure the transparency of the appeals system.”

The adoption of this recommendation would make a real difference to the costs of tax compliance to businesses in the private sector.