Exchequer figures for the first 11 months of the year show that total tax receipts are almost €2 billion behind the target set out in last year's Budget.
This follows weekend estimates from the Department of Finance which showed that taxes collected this year would be around €1.75 billion below target.
Today's figures show that the total tax take to the end of November was just under €44.7 billion, compared with the €46.5 billion target. Stamp duty was almost €600m below expectations at just under €3 billion, though income tax was almost bang in line at €12.54 billion.
The take from VAT was almost €400m lower than expected at €14 billion, while Corporation Tax was almost €350 behind target at €6.2 billion. The take from excise was around €250m less than projected at just under €5.2m.
Overall the Exchequer was in surplus to the tune of €1.58 billion as December is usually a much heavier month for Government spending. But the Government is expecting a deficit of €1.6 billion for the full year, as opposed to a gap of €546m forecast at Budget time.
