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Revenue Seizures Reach Record Levels as Ireland Tightens Tax Enforcement
RTE News – 27 August 2025
In a sweeping crackdown that has sent shockwaves through the Irish business community, Revenue – the nation’s tax‑and‑customs authority – has seized assets worth an estimated €62 million in the last 12 months. The figure, published in the latest quarterly enforcement report, represents a 23 percent jump over the previous year and marks the highest single‑year seizure total in the agency’s history.
The RTE article, originally published on 27 August 2025, details how the Revenue Commissioners used a mix of administrative, judicial and investigative powers to immobilise property, cash, securities and business assets belonging to individuals and companies that failed to comply with their tax obligations. The piece also traces the legal framework behind the seizures, highlights key cases, and includes reactions from industry bodies and legal experts.
A Record‑Breaking Year of Asset Seizures
According to the Revenue’s enforcement statistics, 4,823 seizures were executed between August 2024 and August 2025, up from 3,940 the year before. The total value of seized assets rose from €51 million to €62 million – a rise that the agency attributes to a combination of heightened audit activity and new statutory powers introduced under the Revenue and Customs (Tax Enforcement) Act 2024.
In a statement to RTE, Revenue’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Siobhan O’Connell, said: “We are seeing a clear and measurable impact of the new enforcement powers. Our teams are better equipped to identify, investigate and recover assets that finance non‑compliance. The numbers demonstrate that taxpayers who evade their duties are no longer able to hide behind complex corporate structures.”
The article lists the five largest individual seizures, all of which involve former executives of companies that failed to remit corporate income tax, VAT or payroll taxes. The top seizure – a luxury apartment block in Dublin’s Grafton Street – was valued at €9.2 million. The next largest, a series of high‑value jewelry sales, was worth €7.8 million.
The Legal Tools Driving the Crackdown
RTE explains that the new Act, which came into force in January 2024, expands the scope of Revenue’s Revenue and Customs (Investigations and Seizure) Regulations. The key provisions include:
- Seizure of movable and immovable property – Revenue can now seize assets even when the debtor is abroad, provided they are in Ireland or have an Irish component.
- Judicial enforcement orders – The agency can obtain orders from the High Court to freeze accounts and halt the transfer of assets.
- Collaboration with the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) – Joint operations enable the sharing of evidence and streamline the prosecution of cases involving money laundering and tax fraud.
- Data‑sharing agreements – Revenue can now access banking and financial transaction data under a new Financial Intelligence Unit framework, improving traceability.
In a brief interview with RTE, Professor Eoin Mac Giolla, a tax law expert at Trinity College Dublin, remarked: “The Act effectively removes a lot of the loopholes that were previously exploited by sophisticated evaders. However, it also raises significant privacy concerns that must be monitored closely.”
Case Highlights
The article provides detailed overviews of two headline cases that captured public attention:
Miller & Co. Ltd. – A Construction Conundrum
Miller & Co., a construction firm listed on the Irish Stock Exchange, had been under audit for several years. In March 2025, Revenue seized 12 of the company’s office buildings in Cork, citing unpaid corporation tax of €4.5 million. The company’s CEO, Liam O’Connor, was later charged with tax fraud. Revenue’s enforcement team identified a pattern of inflated expenses and under‑reported revenue that spanned from 2017 to 2022.Caoimhe O’Brien – Luxury Property Scandal
Caoimhe O’Brien, a prominent Dublin property developer, was targeted by a joint operation between Revenue and the CAB in June 2025. The seizure involved a portfolio of residential units worth €9.2 million, which were seized to cover unpaid VAT of €2.1 million. O’Brien’s defense team has argued that the assets were seized without due process, a claim that has now been dismissed by the High Court.
The article also refers to a short report linked within the piece that delves into the “Tax Avoidance and Abuse” survey conducted by the Irish Tax Institute in 2024. The survey found that 18 % of respondents believed that tax avoidance was common in the industry, signalling a growing public concern over corporate tax fairness.
Industry Reactions
In the wake of the report, several industry bodies issued statements. The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) expressed “concern over the potential for over‑zealous enforcement” but acknowledged that “compliance should be a priority for all players.” The Irish Property Owners Association called for “clearer guidance on the new enforcement powers to avoid inadvertent breaches.”
Legal practitioners echoed a mixed view. While some applauded the crackdown for its deterrent effect, others warned that the aggressive stance could deter legitimate investment. The Irish Bar Association published a brief commentary on the RTE piece, urging Revenue to “balance enforcement with due process to maintain confidence in the tax system.”
The Human Cost
The RTE piece also humanises the impact of the seizures by sharing stories from individuals whose families were caught up in the crackdown. One such case involved a small shopkeeper in Galway who had his cash registers seized in August 2024, leading to a temporary shutdown of the business. The shopkeeper’s wife, Aoife, stated in an interview: “I never thought we would be in this situation. We just wanted to pay our taxes and keep our family afloat.”
The article emphasises that while Revenue’s primary goal is to recover unpaid taxes, it must also consider the broader social consequences of asset seizure, particularly for small businesses and families.
Looking Ahead
Revenue’s enforcement strategy, as explained in the article, is set to evolve further over the next two years. Dr. O’Connell hinted at upcoming technological upgrades, including the use of artificial intelligence to flag suspicious transactions and the expansion of cross‑border data‑sharing with EU partners.
The RTE piece concludes by summarising that the enforcement numbers are a clear sign of Ireland’s commitment to curbing tax evasion. However, the enforcement body must continue to balance its aggressive tactics with fairness and transparency to maintain public trust and encourage voluntary compliance.
For more on the legislative changes and detailed statistics, readers can follow the links in the original RTE article to the Revenue’s quarterly enforcement report and the Irish Tax Institute’s 2024 survey.
Read the Full RTE Online Article at:
[ https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0827/1530360-revenue-seizures/ ]