Exchequer returns for the first nine months of the year show the State has taken in over €700m more than expected in the last Budget, an improvement of 2.5%.
Almost €28.9bn had been taken in during the year to September, compared to a target of €28.17bn.
The figures were boosted by a €280m (3.2%) excess in VAT intake, while Excise was €197m (5.8%) higher during the period.
Income Tax take is up €136m (1.2%) compared to Budget targets, while Corporation Tax was €108m (4.1%) higher.
At the same time spending across all departments is at or below target levels, with the exception of the Department of Health, which is €251m – or almost 3% - over budget.
This has been mostly offset by under-spending in other departments, so that overall voted spending is running just €14m ahead of target.
There is also an under-spend of €125m in the capital spending budget.
The exchequer deficit is €5.96bn, compared to €7.14bn at the same time in 2013.
According to the Department of Finance, this represents an improvement against target of €1.2bn, driven by increased tax receipts and reduced interest costs on Government debt.
Tax take for the month of September alone is significantly lower than target, however, down €268m (6.3%) on what was forecast in Budget 2014.
This was blamed largely on a €220m shortfall in expected revenue for the month, which was due to delays in the SEPA system transferring funds from the pension levy.
Stamp Duty was €210m (35.2%) lower than forecast for the month and is €41m (3.8%) behind profile for the first nine months of the year.
Corporation Tax was also lower in September compared to what was expected in the last Budget, down €78m (19.3%) on profile, while Income Tax was down €37m (3%) on the monthly target.
