Tax-take for last year was up by almost 8% on 2011.
End of year figures from the Department of Finance show over €36.6 billion was generated for the Exchequer in 2012 which is an increase of more than €2.6 billion.
It means the Exchequer deficit at the end of 2012 stands at €14.8 billion.
The government is welcoming the details of the tax revenue collected in 2012 which was published this evening.
VAT, corporation tax exceed expectations
Overall tax-take is almost 1% or €271 million ahead of target for the year at €36.646 billion.
The figure is 7.7% or over €2.6 billion ahead of the 2011 tax receipts.
Both VAT and corporation tax outperformed expectations while income tax and excise duties recorded shortfalls but not as low as had been forecast.
VAT receipts were €176 million ahead of target at the end of December.
The report says expenditure for 2012 is in line with targets at just under €45 billion with overspends in the Departments of Health and Social Protection offset to a large extent by savings in other areas.
The Department of Social Protection ended 2012 €560 million above target, while Health ended the year at €270 million over budget.
