Ireland – Belgium DTA
Ireland and Belgium signed a Protocol to amend their double taxation agreement (DTA) on April 14, 2014. The new Protocol updates the Article of the treaty in respect of the exchange of tax information, strengthening the measures for information
See MoreIreland Increases Carbon Tax Rates
With effect from May 1 2014 the solid fuel carbon tax is to be raised. This change will bring the tax up to a level that is equivalent to EUR20 (USD28) per tonne of CO2 emitted, in line with the tax payable in respect of other fossil fuels. This
See MoreIreland – Online Portal to Administer Home Tax Break
Ireland’s revenue agency is using an online portal to manage a new property improvement tax relief called the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI). This provision is intended to give value-added tax (VAT) relief, but the HRI is to be managed through an
See MoreIreland – Corporate Tax Rate Effectively Below 11 Percent
A recent technical note issued by the Department of Finance indicates that Ireland has maintained an effective corporate tax rate of about 11 percent since 2003. Enterprises operating in Ireland are liable to corporation tax at 12.5 percent on
See MoreIreland – Taxation of Termination Payments Challenged
European Commission has requested Ireland to change its legislation on termination payments paid to individuals when their employment contracts end, as the Commission is of the opinion that the Irish rules are a restriction on the free movement of
See MoreIreland Launches Tax Relief Review
As part of a review of tax relief the Irish Government has launched public consultations on certain tax relief. The reviews of these tax breaks are to be completed by May 2014 and the findings of the reviews will be taken into consideration by the
See MoreIreland and the UK levy the highest rates of inheritance or estate tax
A recent report published by a firm of accountants has found that Ireland and the UK levy the highest rates of inheritance or estate tax of any major world economies. The report computes that Ireland takes on average 26 percent from the estate of a
See MoreIreland: IBEC calls for Tax Cuts to Support recovery
Ireland’s business and employers’ confederation IBEC has requested a reduction in the marginal individual income tax rate to bring it below 50 percent and has suggested that the income level at which the top rate of tax begins should also be
See MoreIreland – Finance Minister clarifies Corporate Tax Developments
Ireland has confirmed that the changes to residency rules that are intended to deal with the problem of mismatches between treaty partner countries have so far not affected any company’s residence status. The reform which was in the 2014 Finance
See MoreIreland – Car Tax Breaks for Disabled Persons
Ireland has announced that from the end of this year it is to abolish the excise duty relief relating to the fuel portion of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers scheme. This is a consequence of a decision of the European Court of Justice,
See MoreIreland – Think Tank considers that income tax cut should benefit all
A think tank has looked at the possible benefits of lowering Ireland’s income tax rates. There is currently a debate in Ireland on reducing either the 41 percent higher rate of the 20 percent basic range of income tax. Reducing the higher 41
See MoreIreland: opportunities for US firms
The Irish Prime Minister has described the 12.5 percent corporate tax rate as a "cornerstone of the offering of attractiveness that Ireland has," telling the US Chamber of Commerce that his country is open for business. Although a few years ago
See MoreIrish coalition honoring tax promises
The Irish Prime Minister has suggested that Ireland has now implemented more than 90 percent of the tax measures and spending cuts needed to bring its public finances under control. Ireland’s 12.5 percent corporate tax rate has played a central
See MoreIreland – Finance Minister Talks Fiscal Policy
According to the Irish Finance Minister the core objective of the Medium Term Economic Strategy (MTES) is full employment by 2020. In connection with this strategy Ireland will continue to prioritize taxation measures that ensure the recovery
See MoreIreland – Evaluation of R&D tax credit regime
Ireland’s Department of Finance in 2013 undertook a comprehensive review of the Irish research and development (R&D) tax credit regime, to determine that the R&D tax credit provides “value for money” for taxpayers. The review had 5 key
See MoreIreland- Announcement of LPT Amnesty
Irish residential property owners who have so far failed to pay their 2012 Household Charge or 2013 and 2014 local property tax (LPT), or have undervalued their property or claimed an exemption they were not entitled to, will be given until March 31
See MoreEU – Irish Opposition Questions EU on Corporate Tax Probe
Ireland's Fianna Fáil party has expressed its concern over the slow progress being made by the European Commission in its preliminary probe of the country's corporate tax regime. Six months after the report of the preliminary probe the European
See MoreIreland: High taxes may reduce competitiveness
The Irish Government has been warned to control further increases in personal taxes by the head of the country's largest recruitment firm. A recent survey found that almost half of all Irish job seekers are now emigrating to find work. Roughly one
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