Earlier this week, the Institute made a submission to the Public Consultation on Northern Ireland’s upcoming Budget 2026.

Northern Ireland’s competitiveness depends on an economy that attracts investment, supports entrepreneurs, enables cross-border labour mobility, and expands workforce participation through affordable childcare. Chartered Accountants Ireland urged the Executive to prioritise: 

1. Progress on entrepreneurial tax supports childcare investment,
2. Removal of barriers to cross border working,
3. The activation and use of devolved powers on corporation tax, and
4. Childcare investment. 

These actions would increase productivity, stimulate job creation, and strengthen long term fiscal sustainability.

Better tax supports for entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs are the backbone of any economy, creating wealth and employment throughout the country. 

Entrepreneurs need supports specifically designed for them. Urgent action is needed by the UK Government to rectify the divergence between Northern Ireland and Great Britain in the context of forthcoming changes to the UK’s Tax Advantaged Venture Capital Schemes.

Tax supports for entrepreneurs should not be limited to high growth companies but should be expanded to other businesses with a growth mission. A wider review of how the UK tax system can better drive business growth and harness the entrepreneurial spirit of business owners is warranted.

Cross-border and remote/hybrid working on the island of Ireland

Embracing a more integrated approach to cross border working would offer the opportunity to drive growth, build a more stable future for the entire island, and improve outcomes for communities and citizens in both jurisdictions. 

The current rules on cross-border and remote/hybrid working are negatively impacting the all-island labour market. We urged the Executive to work with Treasury and the Irish Government to minimise administrative responsibilities for both employers and employees when a frontier worker works from home a few days a week. The Institute also highlighted the disparity in tax treatment of pension contributions and retirement income.

Reduction to the Corporate Tax rate

A reduced corporate tax rate in Northern Ireland would attract investment, create well paid, secure jobs, and encourage innovation and entrepreneurialism.

The Institute called on the Department of Finance and the Department for the Economy to fund an economic analysis to assess the various impacts of a reduced corporate tax rate in Northern Ireland. 

We also called on the Executive to urgently invest in and reform Invest NI to enable the agency to establish critical relationships in major companies and to adequately sell Northern Ireland as a destination for investment.

Affordable childcare

Affordable and available childcare can boost labour market participation and increase economic productivity. In our most recent research 51% of respondents in Northern Ireland confirmed they had either reduced their working hours or requested to work flexible hours because of childcare pressures.

We called on the Executive and the Assembly to prioritise childcare investment in the upcoming Budget.  We welcomed the publication of the draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy and encourage the Executive to implement the measures in it subject to budgetary constraints.