The Revenue Commissioners has written to almost 70,000 pensioners over issues relating to incorrect tax payments.
The retirees are among around 260,000 taxpayers who may have overpaid or underpaid tax for the year 2022.
Revenue said the group includes about 68,000 people aged over 65, but it insisted it has not launched a campaign specifically aimed at pensioners.
The correspondence outlines the steps which taxpayers should take to review their Preliminary End of Year Statement and file an income tax return.
It said the vast majority of people, including most pensioners, pay the right amount of tax automatically through the PAYE system.
“But where there are other income sources, such as a Department of Social Protection payment or private income, Revenue may need to adjust tax credits to reflect that,” it added.
The Department of Social Protection does not take any tax from social welfare payments before they are paid out, as they are made gross to the recipient.
It means that in cases where a person receives a social welfare payment, such as the State pension, and that person has another source of income, such as an occupational pension, they may owe tax.
Pensioners whose sole income comes from the State pension are not impacted.
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Revenue said the correspondence outlines the steps which taxpayers should take and it said any underpayments are not due immediately and are usually collected gradually over four years.
It said: “The letters are not a demand, but part of our regular efforts to help people check if they have paid the right amount of tax, or if they are due a refund.
“Any letters issued are data driven, proportionate, and accompanied by assistance channels.”
Revenue also said where there is an underpayment, taxpayers are “not required to make any immediate payment”.
“Instead, any underpayment will be collected through a reduction of tax credits in future years,” it added.
The sums of money involved have not been disclosed.
‘Cause a lot of concern’
CEO of Irish Rural Link Seamus Boland said the Revenue letters “will cause a lot of concern”.
Speaking to Today with Colm Ó Mongáin, Mr Boland said Revenue letters sent to some 115,000 pensioners back in 2012 “caused enormous anxiety and stress”.
“I think at that stage there was an apology made for the way people were being treated.
“Hopefully this letter is not as brutal as that one was… I’m hoping it’s a little softer in terms of people who have overpaid and there will be a category of people who have underpaid as well,” he said.
“So there’s lots of pensioners in this category who are going to be affected one way or the other.”
He said he hopes Revenue will adopt a “more humane approach” this time.
“But it will cause concern and I’m sure anxiety will be the name of the game after today’s report,” he said.
