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Sat 12 Dec 2007Major tax shortfall to hit Budget reliefsThe 2008 Budget will be stiffer than expected due to the emergence in recent weeks of a surprisingly large shortfall in this year's tax receipts. This shortfall will make it much more difficult for Minister for Finance Brian Cowen to deliver any substantive reliefs to taxpayers in next Wednesday's Budget. Paul Tansey, Economics Editor and Stephen CollinsreportTotal tax revenue this year is now projected to fall €1.75 billion short of budgetary expectations due to weak tax receipts during November, according to figures published today by the Government.