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Question

I am a Frontier worker living in Northern Ireland (NI) and commuting to work in the Republic of Ireland. My employer has just informed me that I have not been paying enough tax and as a result I will not be receiving my wage for the next 2 weeks - in order to amend the discretion. Can they just do this? Are they allowed to just take my entire wage packet over the two week period? Is it not my employers fault that I have not been paying the correct tax amount?

Answer

As you indicate it is obviously your employer's fault although if there is a genuine income tax underpayment then this could be treated as a situation were you have been overpaid wages which are recoverable.  However this would certainly appear to be an unlawful deduction of wages and under Irish employment law your employer cannot make such a deduction (over and above any income tax properly due in any particular week) without your written consent. I would suggest you check your PAYE details with your local Irish Revenue office, see www.revenue.ie .  If there is a genuine underpayment of tax and your employer will not agree to recover this at a reasonable weekly rate you can bring a claim to a Rights Commissioner in the Republic for non-payment of wages.