All bank deposit holders earn some interest on their hard-earned money and pay the 15 per cent withholding tax to the government. Banks report their depositors’ position to the Inland Revenue Department. Jolly good. When there are changes in the depositors’ personal situation, the IRD likewise gets updated information.

Now, what is the IRD doing to monitor and control the tax evasion obscenity? It has been calculated that over €3 million go down the drain every year at the expense of hard-pressed taxpayers.

It’s utterly stupid and nonsensical to reiterate that nothing can be done about the tax transgressors. Oh no, the law is an ass – the income tax Act is law but of no consequence to the transgressors. The Tax Compliance Unit is a very weak deterrent to combat the very obscene scenario. It’s high time those responsible woke up and did something positive, even from the moral and legal point of view.