# Got a Letter or a Visit from Revenue? We Can Help | ARAN

> Got a letter from Revenue or contact from the Sheriff? We explain what it means in plain English and step in as your registered Tax Agent.

URL: https://aran-accounting.ie/en/revenue-debt-help
Language: en
Published: 2026-08-24
Last updated: 2026-08-24
Author: Rafael Arantes - Registered Tax Agent (TAIN), founder of ARAN Accounting

## Summary

If a letter from Revenue makes your stomach drop, that is a normal reaction, not a sign you have done anything unforgivable. Whether it is a first Notice of Estimate or the Sheriff at the door, there is a clear next step. Send a photo of the letter on WhatsApp and we will tell you plainly what it means and what to do.

## Frequently asked questions

Q: I got a letter from Revenue. Does this mean I am in serious trouble?
A: Not usually. Most Revenue letters, including reminders, Notices of Estimate, and Compliance Interventions, are routine steps in a standard process rather than an accusation. The best move is the same in almost every case: send us a photo of the letter and we will tell you plainly what it is and what to do next.

Q: Does getting a letter from Revenue mean I will be prosecuted?
A: No, not from a letter on its own. Revenue's compliance framework is graded, and the large majority of cases are handled as civil, administrative matters: filing the missing return, paying what is owed, or agreeing a payment plan. Prosecution is a separate and much narrower track, reserved for serious, deliberate cases. Engaging early with a Tax Agent is exactly how a case stays on the straightforward path.

Q: Can the Sheriff enter my home without notice?
A: That is not something we will guess at, because it depends on the specific circumstances of your case, and a wrong guess would not actually help you. What we can tell you clearly is that once a case reaches the Sheriff, you deal directly with the Sheriff about the amount on the warrant. The fastest way to find out exactly where you stand, and to keep your options open, is to bring in a registered Tax Agent straight away.

Q: What does it mean if the Sheriff has contacted me?
A: It means Revenue has referred your case for enforcement, and the Sheriff is now acting on a warrant issued by Revenue under Section 960L of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. It is a serious stage, but it is not the end of the road. We step in as your Tax Agent, contact the Sheriff on your behalf, and work out the fastest realistic way to resolve the amount owed.

Q: Can I still work out a payment plan once the Sheriff is involved?
A: Often, yes. A standard, self-service Phased Payment Arrangement through Revenue's online system is not available once a debt is at the enforcement stage, but Revenue's own guidance is to discuss payment options directly with whichever enforcement agency is handling the case. That is exactly the conversation we have on your behalf, so you are not negotiating it by yourself.

Q: Why use a Tax Agent instead of contacting Revenue myself?
A: You are welcome to contact Revenue directly, and some people prefer to. The advantage of a registered Tax Agent (TAIN) is that Revenue then corresponds with us first, in plain English or Portuguese, and we already know which documents and filings typically move a case like yours forward. Many people simply find it easier to hand the letter to someone whose job is dealing with this every day.

## Sources

- Revenue: Guidelines for Sheriff Enforcement (Tax and Duty Manual): https://www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/collection/enforcement/sheriff-enforcement.pdf
- Revenue: Guidelines for Phased Payment Arrangements (Tax and Duty Manual): https://www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/collection/debt-management/instalment-arrangements.pdf
- Revenue: Phased Payment Arrangements: https://www.revenue.ie/en/starting-a-business/paying-your-tax/phased-payment-arrangements/index.aspx
- Revenue: Do you need a tax agent?: https://www.revenue.ie/en/starting-a-business/starting-a-business/need-tax-agent.aspx
- Revenue: Code of practice and compliance: https://www.revenue.ie/en/self-assessment-and-self-employment/code-of-practice-and-compliance/index.aspx
- Citizens Information: Enforcement of debt judgments: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/money-and-tax/personal-finance/debt/enforcement-of-debt-judgments/

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