Revenue’s tax defaulter list in question after ECtHR ruling

Revenue's tax defaulter list in question after ECtHR ruling

Irish tax authorities may be forced to stop publishing a quarterly list of tax defaulters following a recent European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgment, according to reports.

The government is examining the implications of the court’s ruling in L.B. v Hungary, no. 36345/16 on 9 March 2023, in which it found that Hungary had violated the privacy rights of an unnamed businessman whose name and address was included on a list of tax defaults.

The businessman had argued that the “public shaming list was a modern form of pillory, was extremely humiliating and caused huge distress”.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin yesterday told The Irish Times that the government is studying the ruling to establish if it has implications for Ireland.

Revenue has published a quarterly list of tax defaults since 1983. This had “always been the way”, Mr Martin said.

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