Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 section 908

Application to High Court seeking order requiring information: financial institutions

Section 908 empowers an authorised officer to apply to the High Court for an order compelling a financial institution to make documents available or furnish information relevant to a taxpayer's tax liability.

• The authorised officer must have reasonable grounds for suspecting non-compliance and must obtain written consent from a Revenue Commissioner before making the application
• The judge may order the financial institution to produce records and may also freeze the taxpayer's assets held by that institution for a specified period
• The officer may request that the existence and details of the court order be kept confidential where disclosure could seriously prejudice the assessment or collection of tax
• All hearings are conducted in camera, and the judge may afford the authorised officer anonymity where the public interest requires it