Tag Archive for: Tax tip

Tax Relief for New Start-Up Companies

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Tax Relief for New Start-Up Companies

New start-up companies who set up and commence a qualifying trade on or before 31 December 2026 may be able to reduce their corporation tax bill for their first 5 years of trading.

The aim of the relief is to support businesses in the early stages of growth by reducing, and in some cases fully eliminating, corporation tax payable on the profits of the new trade and certain chargeable gains, helping to improve cash flow while the business is getting established.

The relief applies where the company’s total corporation tax payable for the period does not exceed €40,000. Marginal relief is also available where the total corporation tax payable is more than €40,000 but less than €60,000.

The relief available each year is linked to the total Employer’s Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) the company pays for its employees and directors. This includes Employer’s PRSI up to a maximum of €5,000 per employee and Class S PRSI up to a maximum of €1,000 per director.

Any unused relief arising in the first 5 years of trading, due to losses or insufficient profits, may be carried forward for use in subsequent years.

This relief is intended for genuine trading activities and does not apply to investment or passive income.

Qualifying Conditions

  1. The company must be incorporated in the State, the EU/EEA or in the United Kingdom on or after 14 October 2008.
  2. The company must set up and commence a “qualifying trade” in the period beginning on 1 January 2009 and ending on 31 December 2026. The following are not qualifying trades for the purpose of this relief:
    • A trade that was carried on previously by another person (this rules out sole traders incorporating their trade into a limited company).
    • An existing trade (this rules out forming a new company and acquiring a new trade).
    • An excepted trade (i.e. dealing in or developing land, exploration and extraction of petroleum or working minerals).
    • Service company activities that come within S. 441 TCA close company provisions.
    • A trade if carried on by an associated company of the new company would form part of the existing trade carried on by the associated company.
  3. The company does not exceed the specified levels of corporation tax due.

Example A:

A start-up company’s corporation tax for an accounting period is €20,000, referable entirely to income and gains from a qualifying trade. The total amount of qualifying Employer’s PRSI paid in the accounting period is €17,000.

The amount of relief available for the accounting period is €17,000, meaning the corporation tax referable to income and gains of the qualifying trade is reduced from €20,000 to €3,000.

Example B:

A start-up company’s corporation tax referable to income and gains from a qualifying trade for an accounting period is €20,000. The company also has corporation tax of €3,000 due on its investment income. The total amount of qualifying Employer’s PRSI paid in the accounting period is €25,000.

The amount of relief available for the accounting period is €20,000, meaning the corporation tax referable to income and gains of the qualifying trade is reduced to nil. The company must pay corporation tax of €3,000 on its investment income. The excess relief amount of €5,000 can be carried forward for use in future accounting periods following the five-year relevant period.

Example C:

The total corporation tax payable by a start-up company for an accounting period is €16,000. This refers entirely to income from a qualifying trade. The company has three employees and paid the following amounts of Employer’s PRSI in the accounting period:

Employee Details Employer’s PRSI paid €
Employee 1 2,000
Employee 2 3,000
Employee 3 6,000
Total PRSI 11,000

The amount of qualifying Employer’s PRSI is capped at €5,000 per employee. Therefore, the aggregate amount of qualifying Employer’s PRSI for the period is €10,000 (i.e. €2,000 plus €3,000 plus €5,000).

The relief available is €10,000, meaning the corporation tax of €16,000 referable to income of the qualifying trade is reduced to €6,000.

Conclusion

This relief can be particularly valuable for new businesses with employees, but careful planning at the start of the business is important to ensure the relief can be accessed and fully utilised.

Should you require any assistance in this area, please contact us.

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Updates to OECD Model Tax Convention for Permanent Establishment for Remote Working

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Updates to OECD Model Tax Convention for Permanent Establishment for Remote Working

Although cross-border teleworking already existed before the Covid-19 pandemic, its scope and impact grew considerably during and after the pandemic, and this upward trend is still ongoing.

On 19 November 2025, the OECD released significant updates to the Commentary on the Model Tax Convention (the “Commentary 2025”).

A key focus of these updates is the treatment of Permanent Establishments (PEs) in situations where employees work remotely from a home office or another location that has no formal connection to their employer. The revised Commentary provides important clarifications to Article 5 of the Convention, particularly in the context of modern, flexible working arrangements.

The Commentary on Article 5 (Permanent Establishment): Use of a Home Office

The 2025 Update introduces a new analytical framework for assessing when remote or home-working arrangements may create a Permanent Establishment (PE). The OECD’s updated guidance includes a time-based indicator and a commercial‑reason test to determine whether an employee’s home or other location abroad constitutes a fixed place of business.

  1. Time-based indicator: The guidance establishes that a home or relevant place will not be considered a fixed place of business if the individual works there for less than 50 per cent of their working time, assessed over any 12-month period.If an individual meets the time indicator i.e. works from home for 50% or more of their working time, wider facts and circumstances will be considered, with emphasis on whether the business has a commercial reason for activities in the employee’s home jurisdiction.
  1. Commercial reason test: A commercial reason will be present where the individual directly engages with customers, suppliers, associated enterprises or other persons on behalf of the enterprise; and that engagement is facilitated by the individual being located in that State.However, the mere presence of customers or suppliers does not automatically establish a commercial reason.  If there is no genuine commercial reason for working from that location, it generally will not be considered a place of business for the company, unless other specific facts suggest otherwise.

The updated Commentary contains five illustrative examples reflecting common fact patterns:

  • Example A – Luca, an IT consultant based in Ireland, spends three months working from a rented apartment in Lisbon. Because the accommodation is used only on a temporary, short‑term basis and lacks continuity, it is not regarded as a fixed place of business for his employer.
  • Example B – Emma, who normally works in Dublin, relocates temporarily to Barcelona and carries out around 30% of her duties from her home there. While her Spanish home is a “fixed” location, she works there for less than half of her time. As a result, it is not considered a place of business and does not create a PE for the company.
  • Example C – Jonas moves to Munich and performs approximately 80% of his work from his home office. He also routinely meets clients located in Germany. The home is “fixed” and, because there is a commercial reason (serving local clients), it is considered a place of business and a permanent establishment for the company.
  • Example D – Sofia is based in Porto and spends about 60% of her time working from her home office. However, she provides services to clients across several countries and only occasionally visits a local client in Portugal. Despite the high level of home‑working, there is no commercial reason for her to be in Portugal, so her home office does not constitute a place of business or give rise to a PE.
  • Example E – Aisha works almost entirely from her home in Singapore, delivering virtual support and services to customers located across Asia‑Pacific time zones. Her presence enables the company to serve those markets more effectively. In this case, the home office is fixed and commercially driven, and therefore is likely to be considered a place of business that results in a PE.

Our View

With remote working becoming an increasingly common request, whether from an employee’s home or another overseas location, businesses have faced ongoing uncertainty around potential tax implications and how best to structure their remote work policies.

Overall, the updated guidance offers more clarity and flexibility for organisations managing cross‑border remote working arrangements.  Employers are advised to monitor the frequency with which employees conduct work outside the jurisdiction of their employment contracts, carefully assess remote work policies for potential permanent establishment risks, and maintain comprehensive records of all related processes and procedures.

If you need assistance reviewing your remote working policy, or have any queries in relation to the updated commentary, please feel free to contact us.

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Taxation of Dividends from Irish Companies

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Taxation of Dividends from Irish CompaniesIn accordance with the Companies Act 2014, an Irish company may only pay a dividend out of distributable reserves. A company cannot lawfully distribute capital or pre‑acquisition profits.

All dividends must be paid proportionally to the amount of shares held, subject to any special rights attached to specific share classes.

Tax Treatment of Dividends from Irish Companies

When an Irish company pays a dividend, it is obliged to deduct Dividend Withholding Tax (DWT) at 25% from dividend payments before distributing them to shareholders. This applies to both resident and non‑resident shareholders, unless an exemption applies.

The company paying the dividend must file details of the distribution and remit withheld tax within 14 days of the end of the month in which dividends are paid.

Exemptions from Dividend Withholding Tax

Under the EU Parent/Subsidiary Directive, no DWT is deducted from any distributions made by an Irish resident subsidiary to its parent in another EU Member State. In addition, exemptions from DWT apply in the following circumstances:

  • Payment to Irish resident companies.
  • Payment is to excluded Irish resident persons – certain pension funds, charities and other approved entities.
  • Payments to qualifying non-resident individuals.
  • Payments to qualifying non-resident companies.
  • Payments to qualifying non-resident persons (not being an individual or company).

For the above categories, a completed exemption form must be retained by the company paying the dividend. The exemption forms for corporates and other non-individuals are self-certified, however, in respect of non-resident individuals, their exemption must be certified by the tax authorities in which they are tax resident. The paying company should ensure they renew any exemption certificates every six years.

In the absence of a valid exemption certificate DWT must be applied.

Personal Taxation of Dividend Income

Irish resident individuals are liable to tax on the dividends received from Irish Companies. The dividend income is added to an individual’s total income for the year and liable to tax, USC and PRSI. A credit is granted for the DWT paid.

While the focus is on dividends from Irish companies, it is useful to contrast how foreign dividends are taxed for Irish residents for example:

  • UK dividends: Taxed in Ireland on the net amount received, with no credit for UK withholding.
  • US dividends: Withholding is typically 30% but reduced to 15% with a W‑8BEN. Ireland taxes the gross, with credit for US withholding.
  • Other foreign dividends: Again, taxed in Ireland but depending on where a tax treaty exists between Ireland and the paying country and the conditions thereof, the rate of withholding tax may be reduced or provide relief in respect of the foreign tax withheld.
  • Foreign dividends received by an Irish tax resident individual may suffer Irish Encashment Tax. A credit is available an individual’s Irish tax liability for the Encashment Tax.

Corporate Tax Treatment of Dividends

Irish dividends received by Irish resident companies are considered Franked Investment Income and are exempt from Corporation Tax.

Additionally, from January 1, 2025, a participation exemption applies to qualifying foreign dividends where the shareholder holds at least 5% of the company for 12 months, making such dividends exempt from Irish corporation tax.

If foreign dividends do not meet the criteria for the participation exemption, they are typically subject to Irish Corporation Tax at the standard rate of 25%. However, a reduced rate of 12.5% applies if the dividend is paid from trading profits, provided that, during the relevant period from which the profits are derived:

  • The company distributing the dividend is resident in an EU Member State or a country with which Ireland has a Double Taxation Agreement (DTA); or
  • The main class of shares of the company paying the dividend (or its parent holding at least 75% ownership) has been substantially and regularly traded on a recognised stock exchange in Ireland, the EU, or a DTA country.

The 12.5% regime for foreign dividends has been extended to dividends paid out of trading profits by:

  • A company that is resident in a non-treaty country where the company is owned directly or indirectly by a public company; and
  • A company that is resident in a territory that has ratified the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters.

Where foreign tax on some dividends exceeds the Irish tax payable, the excess credit may be offset against Irish tax arising on other foreign dividends where the foreign tax is less than the Irish tax.

Unused credits can be carried forward indefinitely, but must be reduced by the Irish tax rate, and offset in the same way in subsequent accounting periods.

Excess foreign tax credits arising on dividends must be split into two between credits arising on 12.5% dividends and credits arising on 25% dividends, as excess credits from 12.5% dividends cannot be offset against Irish tax on 25% dividends.

If you require any assistance in this area, please contact us.

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Tax Treatment of Meals Provided to Employees

Tax Treatment of Meals Provided to Employees

Revenue published new guidance on the provision of staff meals which has come into effect from 1 October 2025 (Tax and Duty Manual Part Part 05-01-01o).

The guidance reiterates Revenue’s position in relation to the existing exemption for meals provided in canteens open to all staff and also provides welcome clarity on the tax treatment of staff meals provided outside a designated ‘canteen’ setting.

The term “meals” in this context is interpreted broadly to include a variety of food and beverages such as hot meals, sandwiches, snacks, fruit, biscuits, tea, coffee, water, juice, and soft drinks. Alcoholic beverages are explicitly excluded.

1. Meals provided on the Employer’s Premises

Meals brought onto and consumed on the employer’s premises will not be considered a taxable benefit-in-kind (BIK), provided the following conditions are met:

  1. The meals are made available to all employees; and
  2. Consumption takes place on the employer’s premises.

Example A: A hotel has 10 employees and there is no designated staff canteen. All employees are provided with a meal and a soft drink in the hotel restaurant each day they are working. As the meals are provided to all staff, and are served and consumed on the employer’s premises, the cost incurred by the employer will not be treated as a taxable BIK.

Example B: An employer with 30 office-based staff provides fruit baskets and non-alcoholic beverages in the board room for 10 senior staff members. There is no operational requirement for providing the refreshments. As the refreshments are not available to all staff, a taxable BIK arises for the 10 staff that avail of the benefit.

If meals are not available to all staff, or not consumed on the premises, the cost is a taxable BIK.

2. Working Lunches

Where employers provide meals to only a specific cohort of employees, such as “working lunches” or “working dinners”, to facilitate operational requirements / business needs, Revenue has confirmed that these will not be treated as a taxable BIK, where the following conditions are satisfied:

  1. A specific operational requirement must exist (e.g., meetings, overtime),
  2. The meals are consumed on the employers’ premises,
  3. The cost per employee must not exceed the 5-hour Civil Service subsistence rate (currently €19.25).

Example A: In November 2025, in order to complete a stock take, 10 of the 55 staff of a supermarket work overtime until 11:30pm. The employer orders in pizza at 8pm for the 10 employees so the employees do not need to leave the store. The total cost of the pizzas is €165. As the cost of the pizzas for each person (€16.50) does not exceed the 5-hour rate, there is an operational requirement and the pizzas are consumed on the employer’s premises, this will not be treated as a taxable BIK.

Example B: A manufacturing plant that usually ceases production at 8pm each evening schedules a non-routine night shift for 12 employees to meet production targets, providing dinners costing a total of €300. The cost incurred per employee is €25. As this amount exceeds the 5-hour rate, a BIK charge to tax arises on the full €25 per employee.

Where, tea, coffee, biscuits, etc. are available to all staff on the employer’s premises, this will not impact the daily limit per employee.

3. Meal Vouchers

The long-standing 19c deduction per voucher is abolished. From 1 October 2025, the full value of any employer-provided meal vouchers is treated as a taxable Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) and must be included in the employee’s notional pay for Income Tax, PRSI, and USC purposes.

Summary

Scenario Taxable BIK Key Conditions
Staff Canteen No ·       Open to all staff
Meals for all staff on company premises No ·       Available to all staff

·       Consumed on premises
Working lunches (operational need) No ·       Operational Need

·       Consumed on premises

·       ≤ €19.25 per person
Meals for select staff (no operational need) Yes ·       Not available to all staff, OR

·       No operational requirement
Meal vouchers (from 1 Oct 2025) Yes ·       Full face value taxable

·       No 19 cent deduction

To avail of the tax-free treatment, employers must maintain adequate records including the date the refreshments were provided, the total cost of the refreshments and the number of employees who availed of the refreshments.

Revenue may conduct spot checks, and where the daily cost limit is exceeded, the entire cost becomes taxable as a BIK and must be included in payroll for Income Tax, PRSI, and USC purposes.

Should you require any assistance on the  Tax Treatment of Staff Meals, please contact us.

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Revenue Issues Guidance on Karshan Disclosure Opportunity for Employers

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Revenue Issues Guidance on Karshan Disclosure Opportunity for Employers

In October 2023, the Supreme Court delivered an important judgment on the key factors to be considered to determine whether a worker is an employee or self-employed for income tax purposes. The Court decided that the question should be resolved using a five-step process.

Revenue then published guidance in May 2024 explaining the new five-step decision-making framework. It encouraged all businesses to review the nature of any contractor-type arrangements and consider any implications the Kharshan judgement may have for them.

Revenue have recently announced Karshan Disclosure Opportunity Guidance, an opportunity for employers to correct any payroll tax issues in respect of 2024 and 2025, arising from bona fide misclassification of employees as self-employed workers without penalty or interest. The deadline for submission of disclosures to avail of these favourable settlement terms is 30 January 2026.

Businesses who engage contractors should self-review all arrangements with contractors in light of the new five-step framework to see if a disclosure is required before the 30 January 2026 deadline.

If you require our assistance with this, please contact us.

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Tax Guidance for Social Media Influencers: What You Need to Know

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With an increase in those earning income from social media and promotional activities, the Revenue Commissioners have issued a manual to reiterate that such income is liable to tax based on the application of ordinary tax rules.

Types of Taxable Income

Income derived from social media or promotional activities is chargeable to tax, even in circumstances where the activity is conducted on a casual basis only and is not the individual’s or company’s main business or main source of income.

Such income can be in the form of subscriptions, advertising, sponsorship, brand ambassadorship or endorsement fees and may be monetary or non-monetary in nature. Where the receipt is in non-monetary form, i.e. goods/services, then the value of such must be determined and is regarded as income.

Determining If Social Media Activities Constitute a Trade

Whether the profits or gains derived from social media or promotional activities arise in the course of a trade is a question of fact, having regard to the particular facts and circumstances of each case and also having regard to the ‘badges of trade’ and caselaw.

Example: Full Time Influencer

Orla is an adventure travel enthusiast. She is a full-time travel blogger and regularly posts content on various social media channels. She receives income from sponsored blog posts and affiliate marketing. Orla’s social media activity is carried out on an ongoing, frequent basis with the intention of making a profit. Her activity has the characteristics of a trade. She is obliged to return the income as Case I income.

Deductible and Non-Deductible Expenses

In computing the profits assessable to tax, certain expenses may be deducted provided they are:

  • Revenue and not capital in nature,
  • Incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the trade, and
  • Not specifically disallowed in law.

When considering if an expense was incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the trade, one should be aware that if the expense has both a business and non-business purpose then the entire expense is disallowed, e.g. clothes. Similarly, hair and make-up expenses are also disallowed.

If carrying on a trade, a deduction for capital expenses, in the form of capital allowances, may be available. However, if the income is derived from ad-hoc activities, then no deductibility is permitted for capital expenses.

Example: Casual Influencer

John is a full-time software developer who enjoys mountain hiking in his spare time. He pays an annual subscription to an online map and trails app. He posts reviews of trails and landscape photographs online on social media channels one or two times a year. People with occasionally contact John to purchase a photograph he’s posted on social media. He is obliged to declare the profit from the online activities. When calculating the taxable profit from the activity, he is allowed to deduct the costs of print, post and stationery incurred from sales of his photographs. The costs of the annual subscription to the hiking app or the cost of hiking clothing is not deductible, as the costs are a personal cost and not incurred directly in the provision of the social media content.  As John is not carrying on a trading activity capital allowances, e.g. on photographic equipment, are not available.

Business Structures and VAT Considerations

Such activities may be carried on by a person through a sole trade, partnership or a company.

In addition to Income Tax and Corporation Tax, persons carrying on a business need to be aware of their obligations to register and account for VAT should the value of their supplies exceed the relevant registration thresholds.

For further information on tax guidance for social media influencers, please contact us.

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Transborder Workers’ Relief: A Guide for Irish Residents Working Abroad

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With the rise in cross-border employment, Irish tax residents working abroad may qualify for a significant tax relief known as Transborder Workers’ Relief. This article outlines the key eligibility criteria and how the relief is calculated.

What is Transborder Workers’ Relief?

Transborder Workers’ Relief is a tax relief available to individuals who are resident in Ireland but work and pay tax in another country. The relief effectively removes the earnings from a qualifying foreign employment from liability to Irish tax, provided that foreign tax has been paid and is not refundable.

Who Qualifies?

To claim the relief, the following conditions must be met:

  • You must be resident in Ireland for tax purposes,
  • You must work full-time in another country that Ireland has a double taxation agreement for a continuous period of at least 13 weeks,
  • You must pay tax in the foreign country on your employment income and are not due a refund of the tax paid,
  • You must be present in Ireland for at least one day for every week worked abroad.

It is important to note that the relief does not apply if the individual receives Seafarers’ Allowance, Foreign Earnings Deduction (FED), or split year treatment. Additionally, one cannot claim relief if they or their spouse or civil partner are proprietary directors of the company for which they work abroad.

How is the Relief Calculated?

The relief is calculated using a formula that determines the “specified amount” of Irish tax that can be relieved:

Specified Amount = (Total Irish Tax Due × Non-Foreign Income) ÷ Total Income

This means that the relief only applies to the portion of Irish tax attributable to the foreign employment income. You will not receive any credit for foreign tax paid if you qualify for transborder relief.

How to Apply

The relief is claimed through the annual income tax return (Form 11). Supporting documentation, such as foreign payslips, tax certificates, and travel records, may be required by Revenue.

Conclusion

Transborder Workers’ Relief can offer significant tax savings for Irish residents working abroad, but it requires careful planning and accurate reporting. If you think you may qualify, our tax team at Crowleys DFK is here to help.

 

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Residential Premises Rental Income Relief (RPRIR)

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Residential Premises Rental Income Relief (RPRIR)

The Residential Premises Rental Income Relief (RPRIR) was introduced in Budget 2024 to support the Irish rental market by incentivising landlords to retain properties for long-term letting. This article outlines the key features of the relief, eligibility requirements, and how landlords can benefit.

What is RPRIR?

RPRIR is a tax credit available to landlords who rent out qualifying residential properties. The relief is available from 2024 to 2027 and is designed to encourage continued participation in the rental market. The credit is valued at up to a maximum of €600 in 2024 and is set to increase in subsequent years.

Who Can Claim the Relief?

RPRIR is available to all individual landlords of ‘qualifying premises’. The relief is not available to companies or other entities such as trusts or partnerships.

Qualifying Premises:

A qualifying premises refers to a residential property owned by the landlord on 31 December in the year of assessment. The property must meet one of the following conditions:

1. It is occupied by a tenant:

  • under a tenancy registered with the Residential Tenancies Board,
  • let by the landlord to a public authority, or
  • subject to Part II of the Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Act 1982, which pertains to formerly rent-controlled tenancies;

2. Alternatively, if the premises is not occupied by a tenant, the landlord must be actively marketing the property for rent.

In cases where RPRIR is claimed based on active marketing for rent, the landlord must provide evidence to support this claim, such as copies of advertisements for the letting.

Other Eligibility Criteria:

To qualify for RPRIR, a landlord must, on 31 December of that year, be:

  • compliant with their LPT obligations in respect of all qualifying premises, and
  • hold a valid Tax Clearance Certificate.

Conclusion

Residential Premises Rental Income Relief offers a valuable opportunity for landlords to reduce their tax liability.

For further guidance or assistance with your tax return, please contact us.

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Understanding the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT)

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Residential Zoned Land Tax

What is the RZLT?

The Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) was first introduced in the Finance Act 2021 and aims to increase housing supply by activating zoned and serviced residential development lands (including mixed-use lands) for housing. It is annual self-assessed tax, effective from 2025, calculated at 3% of the market value of applicable land.

The tax applies to land zoned for residential use and adequately serviced since 1 January 2022. Some properties are exempt from RZLT, such as existing homes that already pay the Local Property Tax (LPT).  These properties may still appear on local authority maps.

Local authorities are required to prepare and publish maps that identify the land within the scope of RZLT. These maps are updated annually on 31 January.

Who is required to register for RZLT?

RZLT is a self-assessed tax. Landowners whose land appears on the annually updated map must register for RZLT. Residential properties that pay the Local Property Tax (LPT) are exempt, unless their garden or yard is larger than 0.4047 hectares (one acre). In such cases, registration is required, but no tax will be due.

You can register through the Revenue Online System (ROS) or MyAccount. Once registered, Revenue will assign a unique identification number to your site. Non-compliance may result in penalties.

Valuation

RZLT is self-assessed, based on the market value of the site on the valuation date. This means the landowner must initially determine and declare the site’s market value to Revenue. Revenue guidance suggests the following resources which may be helpful when determining the value position:

  • Information from local estate agents or valuers;
  • Commercial property sales websites;
  • Newspapers or other media sources.

Revenue has emphasized the importance of comparing similar sites when using the suggested resources. These comparisons should consider factors like type, size, location, zoning, and planning permission status. Revenue may engage an expert to help determine the land’s value.

Key Dates for Landowners

  • 27 January 2025: Registration for RZLT is live and available through Revenue Online System. Revenue have published guidance for the registration system.
  • 31 January 2025: Final maps are published by local authorities.
  • 01 February 2025: RZLT becomes chargeable for land that met the criteria on 01 January 2022 or during 2022.
  • 23 May 2025: Deadline for submitting the annual RZLT return and payment.  This return has to be submitted even if a deferral is being claimed.

Pay and File Obligations

An annual return must be submitted to Revenue, and any tax liability paid by 23 May each year, starting in 2025.

The RZLT legislation provides for surcharges and interest for non-compliance including late payment interest, failure to make timely returns and undervaluation of land. A penalty of €3,000 will apply where the landowner does not register for RZLT where required to do so.

Landowners are advised to maintain detailed records to allow Revenue to verify the RZLT due.

In certain circumstances, RZLT payment may be deferred.

2025 Rezoning Submission

Farmers can seek an exemption by requesting their land be rezoned to reflect its agricultural use.

Finance Act 2024 provides an opportunity for a rezoning request to be submitted to the relevant Local Authority in respect of land which appears on the revised map for 2025 published on 31 January 2025.

Where such a rezoning request is made, an exemption from RZLT may be claimed for 2025 where certain conditions are met.

To claim this exemption, you must register for RZLT and file a 2025 RZLT return by 23 May 2025.

Contact Us

If you require further guidance on the RZLT, please contact us.

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Understanding the EU VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) Reforms: Key Points for Irish Businesses

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Understanding the EU VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) Reforms: Key Points for Irish Businesses

The EU’s VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) package will enter into force on 14 April 2025 and will be rolled out in stages. ViDA has been called the biggest VAT reform since the Single Market, but what is it and what does it mean for Irish businesses?

There are three pillars to the ViDA package:

  With effect from Key Points
Pillar 1 – Digital Reporting Requirements & eInvoicing 1 July 2030
  • eInvoicing will be mandatory for intra-Community B2B and B2G transactions
  • Data from the eInvoice must be reported in real-time to revenue authorities
  • Withdrawal of VIES returns/ EC Sales List reporting
Pillar 2 – Updated rules for the platform economy 1 July 2028 (voluntary)

1 July 2030 (mandatory)
  • Platforms facilitating supplies of passenger transport or short-term accommodation will become responsible for collecting and remitting VAT to tax authorities when their users do not
Pillar 3 – Single VAT Registration 1 January 2027

 

 
  • OSS Scheme extended to include B2C supplies of electricity and natural gas
1 July 2028
  • OSS Scheme further extended to include B2C supply and install contracts, and certain domestic supplies of goods and services by taxable persons not established in the Member State of consumption
  • New OSS module to report intra-Community movement of own goods
  • Mandatory reverse charge on B2B services received from non-established suppliers

Explanatory notes with detailed guidance on how ViDA should be implemented are currently being drafted at EU level. It is expected that Irish Revenue will publish implementation guidance for Irish businesses during 2025. Aligned with this, Irish Revenue is looking to modernise Ireland’s administration of VAT generally so there could be further changes to the Irish VAT system.

How Should Irish Businesses Prepare for ViDA Changes?

Irish businesses selling goods or services within the EU should take this opportunity to evaluate how the ViDA package will affect their VAT processes and registrations and take necessary actions to ensure they are ready for the ViDA changes.

Please contact us if you require assistance with preparing for these changes.

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