Web check on Irish traders
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Hauliers can now contact the Irish Companies Registration Office (CRO) directly on the Internet at www.cro.ie to ensure a client company is still on the register. If it is not, it does not legally exist.
The CRO has expanded its staff from 89 to 120 and installed a computerised system; with the extra resources it plans to take tougher action against directors of rogue companies. In the past 18 months more than 40,000 firms have been struck off the register for not filing annual returns, but no directors have been prosecuted.
About 40% of companies are still failing to file returns and the CRO says it will pursue defaulting directors with threats of 1R£1.000 fines or six months' imprisonment.
Last December the time allowed for tiling returns was cut from two years to one year. Firms are required to report within 60 days of an annual general meeting, otherwise they risk being struck off and the directors prosecuted.