Galway Bay fm newsroom - Revenue is monitoring an ongoing court case involving a Ballinasloe woman who claims Lotto HQ told her how to avoid gift tax on a 3.4 million euro Lotto win.
David Walsh is suing Mary Walsh of Knocknagreena, Ballinasloe for a one-sixth share of the 3.38 million euro win from January 22nd 2011.
The 12 euro ticket at the centre of the case was sold at Salmons Department Store at Main Street in Ballinasloe and was one of two winning tickets for the Lotto draw on January 22nd 2011.
David Walsh believes he is entitled to one sixth of the jackpot – some 560 thousand euro – because he signed the back of the winning ticket.
He claims that his father – who passed away later in 2011 – his cousin Kevin Black, Mary Walsh and her sons Anthony and Jason Daly were also part of the syndicate.
However, Ms. Walsh denies that David Walsh is entitled to a one sixth share – and says she bought and owned the ticket and intended to make gifts from the winnings.
She says she was advised signatures on the back would avoid the signatories having to pay tax on those gifts.
According to the Irish Daily Mail, Revenue is now monitoring the court case - and its determination could see changes to the rules surrounding tax-free Lotto winnings.
