GAA to gather county board representatives amid Revenue fears

The GAA has expressed concern over Reveneu’s risk audits of county boards, and will convene all county chairpersons, secretaries and treasurers for a meeting on Tuesday.

Croke Park administrative and financial chiefs have organised the online gathering in an attempt to address growing concerns about potential tax liabilities faced by boards, the Irish Examiner reports.

Board officers in the 26 counties are ‘privately’ urging the GAA to being talks with Revenue Commissioners, the Examiner report adds.

Mayo and Galway have said they will not sign off on their 2024 accounts due to outstanding enagagements with Revenue.

Revenue has also been taking a close look at the accounts of Wexford, with the Wexford county board making a voluntary disclosure of €55,000 to Revenue.

Speaking on Thursday, Mayo chairman Seamus Tuohy said tax liabilities associated with expenses was a big issue across the board.

“The issues that have been identified by the Revenue Commissioners relate to expense payments made. It is therefore clear that these potential tax liabilities identified by Revenue may also impact every other county board in Ireland.

“As Mayo GAA continue to work constructively with Revenue on these issues, I would urge the wider GAA community to proactively engage on these issues and ensure all county boards have clear guidelines going forward around the tax treatment of all expenses that are incurred in the running of our association.”

Issues around expenses are linked to the likes of mileage on players’ sponsored cars, Cúl Camps, referee fees and team holidays.

Speaking on Monday night, Fianna Fáil TD John Connolly expressed concerns about the tax liability issues facing county boards.

The Galway TD said: “I would see us to having a particular remit in making sure that in implementing political policy or a policy developed by politicians, that it is done in a fair manner.

“I certainly won’t be letting this rest until I know that is happening. I am a bit concerned by what I am hearing. My understanding of benefit-in-kind, I am not a tax consultant, I am not a tax expert, is that it has to be applied to employees. As far as I can detect from what I hear, that is not what is happening. I may be wrong on that, but I aim to make sure the policy is being applied properly. That people and the association aren’t being unduly affected by it.”

 

Sourse: breakingnews.ie