Ireland: Tax

The European Commission has proposed consolidating nine separate Directives on Administrative Cooperation into a single recast directive, aiming to simplify the EU's tax information exchange framework while maintaining transparency. However, the proposal faces significant challenges including the incorporation of previously rejected "Unshell" provisions, the requirement for unanimous approval from all 27 Member States, and questions about whether the consolidation will deliver meaningful simplification for

The European Union has proposed a comprehensive recast of its Directive on Administrative Cooperation (DAC), aiming to consolidate nine existing directives into a single framework while addressing longstanding concerns about reporting burdens.

The Tax Appeals Commission's 2025 annual report reveals significant trends in Irish tax dispute resolution, including a fourfold increase in appeal values and growing complexity of cases involving European law. With corporation tax disputes representing 64% of the quantum despite only 5% of appeals, and proposed legislative changes potentially shifting to public hearings, taxpayers face an evolving landscape requiring early preparation and strategic readiness.

When family members run a business together – whether as partners or shareholders in a family company – a critical question is, what should happen in the unfortunate circumstances...

A will is often considered the final word on how someone's estate should be distributed — but that isn't always the case. In reality, many families discover that a will, even one carefully prepared, can create unforeseen consequences after death.

For business owners, especially those at the helm of family-run enterprise, Trusts offer more than just estate planning benefits. They provide practical legal structures to tackle real-world challenges...

Ireland is introducing a new tax-efficient Investment Account from July 2027, allowing residents to invest up to €12,000 annually with a €50,000 tax-free threshold. The initiative aims to encourage retail investment by eliminating complex tax rules like deemed disposal and replacing them with a simplified 1% annual tax on amounts exceeding the threshold.

The Irish Budget for 2027 (“Budget 2027”) was announced by Minister Simon Harris on 6 October 2026. Budget 2027 contains a number of measures intended to support Ireland’s status as a leading financial and investment jurisdiction in Europe. International investors will welcome the introduction of reforms for the taxation of Irish corporates, the introduction of new rules to accommodate the Pillar Two side-by-side agreement with the US and the extensions to Irish tax provisions for tax credits.

Budget 2027 was presented as setting out a path to bring us to a place in which work is rewarded, risk repaid and investments in our future can bear fruit. Whilst such sentiments are noble, the focus of the Budget tax measures was almost entirely on addressing the cost of living pressures for middle income earners through tax reductions which were largely publicised in the media in advance of the Budget being delivered.

Ireland's EU Presidency brings unique insights into European legislative processes, while recent tribunal decisions and regulatory changes reshape the landscape for tax enquiries, transfer pricing adjustments, and foreign investment screening. These developments signal important shifts in how tax authorities exercise their powers and how cross-border transactions are scrutinized across EU member states.

The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled on whether intra-group transfer pricing adjustments constitute consideration for separate supplies of services subject to VAT. While the judgment provides clarity on routine profit margin adjustments, it raises questions about the broader treatment of year-end transfer pricing adjustments and their VAT implications for multinational enterprises.

The Irish Revenue Commissioners are increasingly exercising their statutory powers to compel taxpayers to produce documents and information, both for domestic tax enquiries and in response to exchange of information requests from foreign tax administrations. A recent UK First-Tier Tribunal decision in Lifeplus Europe Ltd v HMRC provides valuable guidance on the scope and limits of these information-gathering powers, particularly regarding the concepts of 'reasonably required' and 'possession or power' in th