New Revenue office opens in Navan as 90 staff transfer

THE building sector which came under thorough Revenue Commissioners scrutiny in recent months can now expedite its business in Navan, bringing a welcome employment boost to the town.

This week, the Revenue Commissioners opened new offices at Abbey Buildings, Abbey road, Navan, to deal with the east and south-east regions, covering income tax for the self-employed, company and corporation taxes, relevant contracts and sub-contractors taxes as well as tax clearance certificates.

The town already is home to the Commissioners' Vehicle Registration Tax office for the east and south-east regions, based on the Commons Road. However, Meath PAYE taxpayers are processed at the regional offices based at the PAYE Centre1 at Rosslare Harbour, Co Wexford.

A Revenue Commissioners spokesperson confirmed this week that the new Navan offices would involve the transfer of at least 90 staff, which formed part of the  decentralisation of the service and which has already seen substantial numbers already moved out of the city to several Leinster counties. There was the prospect of this figure rising in the near future, she added.

The transfer of staff to Navan represents proof that at least some of the much-vaunted decentralisation projects pledged by the Government are happening and follows a growing public cynicism after a number of earlier projects proposed for the town failed to materialise.

The Revenue Commissioners reported garnering €129.6 million in arrears from the construction industry following lengthy investigations last year and have warned that further measures are planned to ensure that the sector remains fully tax-complaint in 2008. Most of the firms making settlements with the Commissioners following recent investigations were in the Dublin area.