Laois hairdresser gets jail sentence for not lodging tax returns
File image
A LAOIS hairdresser has been sentenced to six months in jail for failing to lodge income tax and VAT returns.
John Coss, Pallas, Portlaoise appears on a national list of tax defaulters, which was published today by the Revenue Commissioners for the period from 1 April to 30 June, 2026.
Mr Coss is included in part one of the Revenue list, which involves cases where courts have determined penalties in relation to tax or duty offences.
He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for failing to lodge income tax returns and a concurrent six months for failure to lodge VAT returns.
Court penalties can include imprisonment, partly suspended or suspended sentences, community service in lieu of imprisonment and closure orders.
Revenue said in a statement: ‘Subject to certain criteria, in settlement cases where there is no agreement to a penalty, or a person fails to pay an agreed penalty, the court determines the penalty.
‘Details are published when the court determined penalty exceeds 15 per cent of the total tax (where the total amount of tax only exceeds €50,000) and a qualifying disclosure has not been made.’
The tax defaulter list is published in two parts, with part one relating to court penalties and part two involving cases where settlements have been reached.
