ROS direct debit payments to Revenue are taking up to 7 working days to clear. We have confirmed with the Collector General’s office that under the SEPA arrangements, ROS direct debit payments made for the first time under these arrangements are taking up to 7 working days to be debited from a taxpayer’s bank account. Therefore this means that while a ROS direct debit payment may have been made on or before the relevant due date and payment confirmation has been received from Revenue, the monies are not taken from the relevant bank account until a week later. Under the SEPA arrangements, subsequent ROS direct debit payments are expected to take up to 4 working days to clear.

The implementation of SEPA has delayed the collection of certain monthly tax receipts from January to February. According to the Department of Finance, January exchequer receipts are behind target. The Department of Finance website notes that this is a technical timing issue and does nothing (hopefully) to alter the tax forecast for the year.

Further information on SEPA is available from the Revenue website.