At the informal EU summit in Limburg yesterday, the proposed EU Savings and Investments Union (SIU) moved firmly to the centre of the competitiveness debate. Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that Ireland is “ready to progress” the initiative, describing the Government’s position as “more positive now”, while recognising sensitivities around supervisory integration and Ireland’s financial services sector.  A reported €11 trillion EU household savings remain on deposit rather than invested in productive enterprise. In Ireland, an estimated €170 billion sits in domestic deposits rather than invested in business to support innovation, SMEs and long-term growth.  We have written to the Minister for Finance to discuss the considerable opportunities that the activation of these household deposits represents for the Irish economy.  Chartered Accountants Ireland has consistently engaged in this space on members’ behalf: In our response to the Ireland for Finance 2026–2030 strategy consultation, we called for full implementation of the Funds Sector 2030 Review recommendations to strengthen Ireland’s investment ecosystem and enhance retail participation in capital markets. We emphasised the need for a competitive, modernised tax framework that supports long‑term saving and investment. Specifically, we advocated for the introduction of a personal investment savings scheme for Ireland. Such a scheme would deepen domestic capital markets, encourage greater retail participation, and create a more sustainable investor base for Irish SMEs and listed companies. On Budget Day, we were disappointed at the absence of progress on ETF deemed disposal reform, noting that meaningful capital‑market development requires coherent and aligned tax policy. In our recent submission on Ireland’s priorities for its upcoming EU Presidency, we further emphasised the importance of progressing the EU Savings and Investments Union agenda – positioning Ireland to lead constructively on capital markets reform while ensuring domestic measures support that ambition. Last week we launched our 2026 Investment Tax Guide in partnership with Goodbody. At the webinar launch the panel discussed the landscape of investment taxation in Ireland including the Government’s renewed focus on encouraging retail investment – the commitments arising from the Funds Sector Review and the anticipated roadmap for simplifying Ireland’s complex retail investment tax framework. The panel also outlined how proposals such as removing the 8‑year deemed disposal rule on funds could support long‑term savers. For any members who missed the webinar, you can watch it back here.   Savings and investments reform will form a core pillar of our pre‑Budget 2027 campaign and we look forward to updating members on this in the coming weeks and months.

  In this week’s Sustainability/ESG Bulletin read about the Central Bank of Ireland Governor’s speech about domestic economic policy priorities, ISIF’s commitment of €75m to expand battery storage supporting the electricity grid, and new studies showing Ireland’s strong hydrogen export potential and continued progress in renewable energy. Funding was awarded to circular economy projects, and research revealed Ireland’s significant gender gap in advanced digital skills. Northern Ireland advanced plans for a Just Transition Commission and launched funding for co‑operatives. Europe introduced a new carbon removal certification standard, while a global biodiversity report warned of rising risks to businesses. This, plus the latest articles, technical content, resources and upcoming events. CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS IRELAND Chartered Accountants Ireland is partnering with the Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland (ICAS) to host a webinar on Thursday 12 March: Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: What you need to know. Learn how CBAM currently operates and what its implementation is revealing in practice. Register here to attend. IRELAND ‘Reinforcing Resilience, Responding to Change’: Central Bank Governor’s speech on ‘adapting to the economy of the future’ In a speech outlining priorities for 2026, Central Bank of Ireland Governor Gabriel Makhlouf has advised that domestic economic policy should focus on priorities that maintain, build and broaden the resilience of the State, its economy and its financial sector. The speech, given to the  EU Heads of Missions, this week, identified priorities including growing the supply side capacity of the economy, in particular infrastructure which is a current constraint on sustainable growth; strengthening the indigenous business sector and enhancing the economy’s resilience; continuing to build fiscal buffers and greater retail participation in financial markets;  and developing a new set of multilateral trading rules that deliver certainty and stability needed by economies and businesses. Quoting Jean Monnet on Europe’s tendency to progress through times of crisis, Governor Makhlour said: “Europe will be forged in crises and will be the sum of the solutions found to those crises”, and pointed to the need for greater development and adoption of technology, as well as continuing to focus on the transition to a net zero world in order to adapt to the economy of the future. ISIF commits up to €75m to new fund supporting Ireland’s energy grid The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) has announced a commitment of up to €75m to a new Gore Street Capital (GSC) fund, an alternative asset manager in the energy storage infrastructure sector with 1.4GW of battery assets under management. The new fund will invest in battery energy storage projects aimed at supporting Ireland’s energy grid by enhancing flexibility, supporting renewable integration, and improving energy security. ISIF’s commitment, as part of its €2bn climate investment programme, will see GSC acquire primarily greenfield battery energy storage projects from developers; procure and construct the projects; and then own and operate the assets for a period in line with the GSEU fund’s ten-year life. Irelands’ potential to export hydrogen The Government has published Exporting Hydrogen from Ireland, a study exploring the potential to export hydrogen from Ireland. The study was commissioned in April 2025 by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment to assess the potential for connecting future Irish hydrogen infrastructure with continental Europe. It was commissioned under the 2023 National Hydrogen Strategy which aims to decarbonise our economy, enhance our energy security, and develop industrial opportunities. The study finds that Ireland’s hydrogen production potential is much larger than the expected domestic demand, and provides practical, technical and commercial information to assist future hydrogen policy development. Ireland’s renewable energy “critically important to competitiveness, security and decarbonisation” The Government has highlighted progress in Ireland renewable electricity in 2025. Progress included the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) offering communities, farmers, small businesses, and others an opportunity to generate income through solar and wind projects of up to 6MW, as well as rapid growth of Ireland’s solar energy sector. Also noted was the investment of €3.5 billion in Ireland's electricity infrastructure across, and the publication of the general scheme for Private Wires to unlock private sector investment in renewables infrastructure. Commenting, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien described renewable electricity as “a critically important part of this government's commitment to competitiveness, security, decarbonisation and quality of life.” Circular economy and industrial competitiveness Funding of €650,000 has been announced for 14 projects across Ireland under the fourth Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS). The funding provides financial support to projects that are working on innovative and scalable solutions to advance Ireland’s transition to a circular economy – an economy where resources are reused, waste is minimised and sustainability is at the core of production and consumption.  Separately, the EU is planning the Circular Economy Act (from Q3 2026) explicitly to boost competitiveness and industrial resilience, double circular material use to 24 percent by 2030 and cut import reliance. The European Commission has also just adopted new measures under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Companies will be required to disclose information on the unsold consumer products they discard as waste, and prohibited from destroying unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear. Failing to utilise women’s advanced digital capability a constraint on growth New research published by the ESRI has found that men in Ireland are over twice as likely as women to use advanced digital skills at work. The research, titled Squandered skills? Bridging the digital gender skills gap for inclusive growth in Ireland – A comparative European perspective, was published jointly with Block W – a female-led network to close the gender gap in the uptake of blockchain technologies amongst women. It found that Ireland has Europe’s largest gender gap in advanced digital skills use at work, raising concerns about the underutilisation of women’s digital skills, despite Ireland’s strong tech sector and high levels of educational attainment. Commenting, Professor Joyce O'Connor, Co-Founder and Chair of Block W, described the potential implications for Ireland: “Competitiveness, innovation and resilience depend not only on investment and infrastructure, but on what happens inside workplaces…. In an economy facing skills shortages, failing to fully utilise women’s advanced digital capability is an avoidable constraint on growth.” Northern Ireland/UK BITC NI opens entries for 2026 Responsible Business Awards Business in the Community Northern Ireland (BITC NI) has opened entries for the 2026 Responsible Business Awards in Northern Ireland, celebrating organisations that lead the way in responsible and sustainable business practice. The Awards reward and recognise businesses large and small and from every sector who go beyond profit and take real action to support communities, show leadership, and tackle social and environmental challenges. More details are available on the BITC NI website, and closing date for entries is 1 May 2026. Regulations to establish climate change Just Transition Commission progress Minister Andrew Muir MLA has confirmed he will be bringing draft Regulations soon to establish a climate change Just Transition Commission to the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Assembly for scrutiny and debate. The draft regulations follow an extensive 10-week consultation, during which the Department sought views on the structure and make-up of the Commission, including whether additional sectors should be represented to those specified for representation in the Climate Change Act (NI). Section 37 of The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (the Act) requires that DAERA, by regulations, establish an independent Just Transition Commission. Just Transition Commissions have been established by the Scottish and Irish Governments to oversee their administrations’ low carbon transition. Archibald launches £30,000 funding to support growth of co-operatives Northern Ireland Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is inviting proposals to support the growth and development of co-operatives across the north. The £30,000 open call for proposals aims to unlock the potential of the wider social economy to deliver good jobs, strengthen regional balance, and support more resilient local communities. It invites proposals that will increase awareness and understanding of the co-operative model, provide practical support and infrastructure to help new and existing co-operatives grow and support co-operatives to develop new opportunities or enter new markets, helping them play a larger role in local economic development, decarbonisation activity, and community-led regeneration. Full details on how to apply, including eligibility criteria and supporting documents, are available at Co operative Support Open Call. EUROPE EU sets world’s first voluntary standard for permanent carbon removals The European Commission has adopted the first set of methodologies under the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation  to certify activities that permanently remove CO2 from the atmosphere. The EU’s goal in adopting these voluntary certification methodologies is to set clear rules and create new opportunities for climate innovation, investments in carbon removal technologies and addressing greenwashing. It also intends to provide clarity for companies and investors and helps to create an emerging market for both innovative start-ups and a major EU bioeconomy. The new rules cover three types of permanent carbon removal activities, selected for their technological maturity and potential contribution to the EU’s climate objectives. These are direct air capture with carbon storage (‘DACCS’), biogenic emissions capture with carbon storage (‘BioCCS’), and biochar carbon removal (‘BCR’). The delegated Regulation will now be transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU for a two-month scrutiny period, after which, if there are no objections, it is expected to be published in the Official Journal in early April, with entry into force 20 days thereafter. WORLD Businesses risk extinction due to dependencies on ever-decreasing natural resources A global report has found that businesses are central to halting and reversing biodiversity loss, but that many often lack information to address their impacts and dependencies, as well as the risks and opportunities relating to biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people. The report, which was approved by representatives of the more than 150 member Governments of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and colloquially known known as the ‘Business and Biodiversity Report’, finds that businesses often bear little or no financial cost for their negative impacts and many cannot currently generate revenue from positive impacts on biodiversity. The report stressed that collaboration, collective and individual actions are essential to create an enabling environment where businesses contribute to a just and sustainable future. It provided more than 100 specific examples of concrete actions that can be taken by businesses, governments, financial actors and civil society.  TECHNICAL ROUNDUP (From our colleagues in Professional Accounting on 6 February) Accountancy Europe has issued two factsheets regarding the Omnibus Directive outlining the changes occurring following the amendments of the CSRD and CSDDD. EFRAG has launched a series of educational videos to support SMEs in complying with the VSME disclosure requirements, and continues to add new material to the VSME Ecosystem which contains useful guides, templates, videos and case studies. EFRAG has released a report from its conference “EFRAG unveils Draft Simplified ESRS: A European Milestone for Sustainability Reporting”. The Financial Conduct Authority has issued a consultation ‘CP26/5: Aligning listed issuers’ sustainability disclosures with international standards’. The Department of Business and Trade (UK) (DBT) has published the outcome of its consultation on proposals for an oversight regime for assurance of sustainability-related financial disclosures. The European Commission updated its request to CEAOB on limited assurance sustainability standards  IAASA has released a new episode of its Insights podcast on Ireland’s first year of CSRD reporting. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has released a new case study series entitled “ESG Reporting in Action”, which examines at how licensed tools and software are helping companies manage sustainability data. GRI has also issued its quarterly standards update. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has issued its January 2026 update and podcast.   RESOURCES Just Transition a catalyst for growth, innovation and long-term competitiveness UK-based global think-tank the Institute for Human Rights and Business has published a series of case studies in a report to demonstrated that the ‘just transition’ is a catalyst for growth, innovation, and long-term competitiveness. Describing the decarbonisation of the global economy as “the greatest economic shift of our age”, the report, titled Making just transitions work - lessons for business leaders, notes how the transition is already shaping business access to capital, workforce availability, policy alignment, and long-term competitiveness. In publishing the case studies, the report aims to address what it describes as one of the biggest challenges businesses face in implementing a just transition: the lack of real-world examples to guide them. The societal impacts of AI – A business leadership perspective Business in the Community Ireland has published insights from CEOs and thought leaders convened to examine how organisations are approaching AI’s broader implications, and whether the societal impacts of AI have entered the discussion on inclusive, responsible and sustainable business. The insights highlight both opportunity and risk, and find that companies grounded in inclusion and sustainability are best positioned to navigate challenges. A significant opportunity exists for businesses to thrive with AI; however, a clear message is that “embedding societal responsibility must be central to this competitiveness agenda”. ARTICLES Environmental breakdown isn’t a distant possibility – it’s a threat to world stability The message is clear: climate change should be prioritised as a security crisis, not just an environmental one (The Irish Times) Plan for state-backed scheme to insure businesses at risk of flooding (Business Post) Sustainability disclosures by listed companies set to evolve (ICAEW Insights) Suppliers are drowning in esg requests coming into 2026 (ESG News) How AI is powering the energy transition – from smart grids to fusion (Reuters) Time for professional services to phase out fossil fuel clients (Sustainable Works – Subscription needed)  EVENTS ICAEW, Putting nature on the balance sheet — Troubleshooting session Troubleshooting session to tackle common challenges on how to embed nature into the activities and processes of the finance function. Virtual, Wednesday, 18 February, 4 - 5pm CET Reuters Events, Practical Implications of the Omnibus A webinar hosted by Reuters Events in partnership with Professor Andreas Rasche, Associate Dean, Copenhagen Business School. The session will explore the practical implications of the EU Omnibus package and what these changes mean for organisations preparing their 2026 sustainability reporting strategy. Virtual | Thursday, 19 February 2026 | 10:00 am–11:00 am GMT / 11:00 am–12:00 pm CET UN Global Compact Network UK Webinar Series, The Business Role in Systems Change, Feb/Mar 2026 Businesses are facing escalating risks as the world approaches critical tipping points. Corporate resilience now depends on the transformation of markets, supply chains, and business models needed to steer the system towards stability. There is also potential for positive tipping points - moments when small, well-directed actions accelerate large-scale transitions towards sustainability. Businesses hold a unique capacity to create and amplify these dynamics of change. In these webinars, leading scholars and experts will discuss tipping points, climate risk, and systems change, how to respond to emerging climate realities and apply breakthrough frameworks such as the Positive Tipping Points Toolkit and Doughnut Economics to unlock change at multiple scales.   Webinar sessions: Understanding Tipping Points Risks, Feb 26  | 14:00 Systems Thinking in Business and Climate, Mar 5  | 14:00 Triggering Positive Tipping Points, Mar 12 | 14:00 Shift, EU Omnibus Webinar - Briefing for business on the revised CSDDD and performing due diligence This webinar will feature insights from the Shift team and leading businesses on practical, real‑world approaches to implementing due diligence aligned with good practice. The session will explore how due diligence requirements under the CSDDD and reporting obligations under the CSRD can be addressed in an integrated way, rather than treated as separate exercises. Companies in scope of the CSDDD or operating within their value chains are encouraged to attend. Virtual, Thursday, 26 February 2026 | 09:00 SEAI, EXEED Energy Efficient Design Training Join our exclusive free half-day training and become a leader in energy-efficient design. The SEAI EXEED team invites you to a dynamic training session designed to upskill professionals and stakeholders in the Excellence in Energy Efficient Design (EXEED) process. This training is ideal for those aiming to become an Energy Efficient Design (EED) Expert. Virtual, Friday 27 February, 9am - 1pm Enterprise Ireland, Sustainability Kickstarter Workshops A half‑day workshop series designed to support business leaders in recognising the strategic importance of sustainability and decarbonisation. The sessions provide practical skills to integrate core sustainability principles, identify competitive opportunities, and build actionable plans to meet rising customer expectations for sustainable products and services. Workshops | Dates & Times • Friday, 27 February 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 20 March 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 17 April 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 8 May 2026 | Half‑day workshop Shift, EU Omnibus Webinar - Briefing for business on the revised CSRD and reporting on sustainability issues The session will examine what recent changes to the CSRD and the ESRS mean in practice for how companies report on sustainability issues.  The webinar will feature insights from the Shift team, alongside leading businesses, on implementation approaches that reflect good practice, support companies in identifying and addressing key risks, and remain practical and workable in real-world contexts. The discussion will also explore how reporting obligations under the CSRD and due diligence requirements under the CSDDD should be considered together, rather than in isolation.  If your company is in scope of the CSRD, or part of the value chain of a company that is, we encourage you to join us. Virtual, 3 March 2026 | 15:00 Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business - Lancaster University, What Does ‘Good’ Look Like in Corporate Reporting? The final session in the Pentland Centre’s free webinar series for SMEs explores what effective reporting on nature and biodiversity looks like. Drawing on global examples, this webinar highlights best practices and practical approaches for integrating nature and biodiversity into corporate reporting. Virtual, Thursday 12 March 2026, 8:00am – 9:00am | 4.00pm – 5.00pm Sustainability Centre You can find information, guidance and supports to understand sustainability and meet the challenges it presents in our online Sustainability Centre.

Chartered Accountants Ireland congratulate the winners of 2020 Good Governance Awards, which took place last night, 19th November 2020, with over 220 online attendees. Chartered Accountants Ireland were delighted to partner with The Carmichael Centre and support this annual highlight for the Charity and non-profit sector in Ireland. 2020 winners are: Category 1 (volunteer only organisations with an annual turnover <€50k): Serve the City Category 2 (volunteer only organisations with an annual turnover between €50k and €250k): Sharing Point Category 3 (organisations with an annual turnover between €250k and €1m): Children’s Rights Alliance Category 4 (organisations with an annual turnover between €1m and €5m): BeLonG to Youth Services Category 5(organisations with an annual turnover between €5m and €15m): LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice Category 6 (organisations with an annual turnover >€15m): Concern Worldwide Governance Improvement Initiative Award: NiteLine Dublin, Proudly Made in Africa, Canoeing Ireland, The Jack and Jill Childrens’ Foundation, and Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Congratulations to all organisations that were shortlisted. As part of the mission to encourage and promote good practice in the area of annual reports and others areas of governance feedback is provided to all entrants. In addition, overall observations of what organisations did very well and areas for improvement is shared.

As AI does more of the routine work of accounting and finance functions, this is a strategic opportunity to develop the trusted business leadership of professional accountants, and from the start of their careers, writes Professor Michelle Carr of UCC. In the ongoing conversations around artificial intelligence (AI), few topics are as paradoxical as the role of AI in accounting and finance. Despite being one of the most vital functions in any organisation, finance is often seen as particularly vulnerable to disruption by AI. This narrative persists, even as CEOs and boards continue to elevate their expectations for the finance function. Today’s organisations are demanding much more from their finance teams than just periodic reporting. They look to finance to provide forward-looking insights, scenario modelling, risk intelligence, and a clear view of organisational resilience. The growing importance of sustainability reporting, geopolitical volatility, and the need for real-time decision-making only reinforce the strategic significance of high-quality financial leadership. However, a structural tension exists. Many finance teams remain tied to the operational workload that has historically defined the accountancy profession: reconciliations, compliance cycles, manual data preparation, and regulatory documentation. While essential, these activities consume valuable capacity that could otherwise be directed toward strategic analysis and value creation. This tension is something I have experienced firsthand. While teaching a group of Chartered Accountants Ireland students preparing for their FAE exams – bright and dedicated future professionals – we were working through models on international pricing decisions, part of the Advanced Performance Management course. In the middle of the session, one student trainee asked me: “Will I ever actually get to use these things? My work is nothing like this.” His question was heartfelt, and it struck a chord. I realised that we train some of the brightest and best for years, yet so often, at least in the initial years of their careers, they are channelled into working at repetitive tasks that fail to utilise their full potential. Surely, there must be a better way. And there is. AI represents that opportunity. Rather than displacing or replacing accounting and finance professionals, AI has the potential to unlock the strategic contributions organisations have long sought from them. Intelligent automation can streamline routine processes, real-time analytics can uncover emerging risks and opportunities, and AI-powered financial systems can significantly accelerate decision-making cycles. The result is not a diminished finance function, but a more trusted and elevated one. When AI handles mechanical tasks, finance professionals can focus on work that truly drives organisational value: guiding strategic decisions with trusted insights; improving capital allocation and financial stewardship; strengthening risk management and organisational resilience; ensuring ESG integrity and long-term sustainability; advising on value creation through responsible leadership; connecting operations, sustainability, and financial impact. These capabilities are at the heart of organisational competitiveness and rely on human reasoning, ethical judgement, and contextual understanding – qualities that cannot be automated. It is these qualities that build trust, trust that accounting professionals will not only safeguard financial integrity but will also lead organisations towards their strategic goals with foresight, responsibility, and a focus on long-term value. For leaders, the message is clear: AI is not a cost-cutting tool, it is a capability-building tool. When implemented thoughtfully, AI enables finance teams to deliver the trusted insight, foresight, and governance that modern organisations require. The future of accounting should not be viewed through the lens of workforce reduction, but as an opportunity for strategic enablement and trusted leadership. AI equips accounting and finance professionals with the tools and bandwidth to step into more influential roles, which align with the priorities of executives and boards and uphold the core values of trust and integrity. At University College Cork, akin to Chartered Accountants Ireland, we view AI not as a threat to the accountancy profession, but as a powerful catalyst for its evolution. The redesign of our BSc Accounting programme and the accounting and finance modules across the business school reflect a deliberate shift away from training students for routine compliance work and towards preparing them for strategic, judgement-intensive roles in AI-enabled finance functions. When This shift is delivered through four interconnected initiatives: Preserving technical excellence while reducing the dominance of mechanistic content increasingly handled by technology. Cultivating a broader perspective and adaptability by exposing students to different institutional, regulatory, and cultural contexts. Embedding AI, digital technologies, and sustainability as foundational elements of modern financial judgement. Fostering integrative, ethical, and strategic thinking through modules focused on ambiguity, trade-offs, and long-term value creation. As machines take on and cover off more of the work of calculation and reporting, accounting education and professional development must focus on human insight, responsibility, and strategic judgement. This is an opportunity to recognise AI not as a threat to the accountancy profession, but as a catalyst for its renewal and ongoing relevance, built on a foundation of trusted business leadership. Dr Michelle Carr is Professor of Accounting, and Head of the Department of Accounting and Finance at Cork University Business School, University College Cork

In Irish news, the first Fiscal Monitor for 2026 has been released and Revenue has published updated guidance on the application of Relevant Contracts Tax to mixed contracts. In UK news this week, we review the progress of the current Finance Bill through the parliamentary process, and there’s still time to share your thoughts on tax supports for entrepreneurs. In International news, Accountancy Europe reports on the key tax risks for SMEs.  Ireland 1. The Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have published the Fiscal Monitor for January 2026 which confirms an Exchequer surplus of €0.1 billion in the month. 2. Revenue has issued updated guidance clarifying how Relevant Contracts Tax applies to mixed contracts. UK 3. The current Finance Bill has reached report stage in the House of Commons. 4. There’s still time to share your thoughts on tax supports for entrepreneurs. International 5. Read the recent Accountancy Europe report on identifying and managing key tax risks for SMEs. Keep up to date with all the latest Irish, UK, and international tax developments through Chartered Accountants Ireland’s Tax Newsletter. Subscribe to the Tax News by updating your preferences in MyAccount. You can also read this week’s Cross-border developments and trading corner here.  

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has updated its Guidance on the Strategic Report. The Guidance, which was first published in 2014, is designed to help UK entities meet their reporting requirements to prepare a Strategic Report under the Companies Act 2006. As well as companies, the Guidance is also relevant to other entities such as limited liability partnerships and qualifying partnerships that are required to prepare a strategic report. The updated guidance supersedes the previous edition of the guidance issued in June 2022 and incorporates the following; Various changes in the corporate reporting framework including the Corporate Governance Code 2024, the Companies (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2024, the Companies Directors’ Report (Payment Reporting) Regulations 2025 and other developments in sustainability-related and wider corporate reporting practice Changes which emphasise the status of the guidance. Mandatory requirements are clearly indicated and distinguished from good practice guidance in the updated document Updates which emphasise the purpose and objectives of reporting and communication principles Structural improvements to the Guidance which should make it easier to navigate and more accessible. Sections are now ordered by general principle instead of by entity type The scoping tables are now published as a separate document  

Revenue has updated its stamp duty guidance on transfers of land to young trained farmers to reflect the Finance Act 2025 extension of this relief. The relief has been extended by a further four years making it available for instruments executed up to and including 31 December 2029. The guidance has also been updated to provide instructions for claiming a stamp duty repayment under section 81AA Stamp Duty Consolidation Act 1999 through Revenue’s eRepayments system.

Revenue has published a further warning of fraudulent emails, SMS (text messages) and phone calls seeking personal information from taxpayers. Revenue has updated its website to highlight recent fraudulent emails claiming that taxpayers are ‘due an audit’ and providing a link instructing them to schedule the audit by a specified date. Taxpayers who have provided Revenue account details in response to an email, SMS or phone call are advised to reset their password immediately. Taxpayers are advised to contact their bank or credit card provider if they have provided bank or card details.

The guidance relating to PAYE monthly and annual estimates has been archived as it relates to payroll reporting obligations applicable up to and including 31 December 2018.

Revenue has published updated guidance on the automatic exchange of information between tax administrations to provide details of the expansion of DAC3 and other further clarifications. The updates to the guidance are as follows: Paragraph 3.5.1 has been updated to reflect the expansion of DAC3 from 1 January 2026 to include certain cross-border tax rulings involving natural persons.     The paragraph also outlines that from 1 January 2026, DAC8 requires advance cross‑border tax rulings issued to individuals to be exchanged with EU tax authorities. This applies when the ruling concerns the individual’s tax residency in the Member State issuing the ruling, or when the value of the transaction or series of transactions exceeds €1,500,000 (or the equivalent in another currency) and that amount is referenced in the ruling. Paragraph 3.2.2 has been updated to remove reference to DAC2/CRS exchanges taking place under the Ireland - Hong Kong DTA as these exchanges are now made under The Convention. Paragraph 4.1 has also been deleted to reflect this change. Paragraph 3.2.2 has been revised to clarify the restrictions on the use of data exchanged under the Convention. Details regarding the exchange of information on crypto asset transactions under the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) and DAC8 have been included in paragraph 3.9. Appendix 1 has been updated to include new exchange relationships.  As a consequence of these changes, the guidance on returns in relation to foreign accounts has been updated accordingly.

The latest Finance Bill, which is officially titled Finance (No. 2) Bill 2024-26, continues its progress through the parliamentary process. The Bill will eventually become Finance Act 2026. Last week the Bill completed Committee Stage on 6 February and is now at Report Stage, the final stage where amendments can be made. Report Stage, the date for which has not yet been set, will be followed by Third Reading in the House of Commons before the Bill moves on to the House of Lords. At Public Bill Committee stage, a range of amendments were made to the Bill details of which are set out in a policy paper published last month. The amendments to the Bill to increase the £1 million allowance for agricultural property relief and business property relief to £2.5 million were previously debated and agreed during the Committee of the Whole House debates which took place on 12 and 13 January 2026.

Revenue has updated its accelerated wear and tear allowances guidance on gas vehicles and refuelling equipment and energy efficient equipment to reflect an extension of these reliefs to 31 December 2030, as provided for by Finance Act 2025.