From the Professional Accountancy team…... In January 2026 ,Chartered Accountants Ireland hosted an online webinar with the Central Bank of Ireland ,the Irish Revenue Commissioners  and the EU Sanctions Helpdesk on  the essentials of EU sanctions compliance, the support available to Irish businesses, and how the EU Sanctions Helpdesk assists SMEs. Content included some  real-world case studies and  a questions and answers session  with the panel.   This information is provided as resources and information only and nothing in these pages purports to provide professional advice or definitive legal interpretation(s) or opinion(s) on the applicable legislation or legal or other matters referred to in the pages. If the reader is in doubt on any matter in this complex area further legal or other advice must be obtained. While every reasonable care has been taken by the Institute in the preparation of these pages, we do not guarantee the accuracy or veracity of any resource, guidance, information or opinion, or the appropriateness, suitability or applicability of any practice or procedure contained therein. The Institute is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of the resources or information contained in these pages.    

In Irish news, the Institute highlights the administrative burden arising from cross border and hybrid working arrangements and Revenue issues preliminary PAYE statistics for 2025. In UK news this week, the Institute issues a call for action to prepare for Making Tax Digital for income tax, and we’d like to hear from you on the call for evidence looking at tax supports for entrepreneurs. In International news, the European Parliament recently hosted a public hearing on tackling tax obstacles in the Single Market.  Ireland 1. Read about the administrative challenges of cross‑border and hybrid working raised by the Institute in recent letters to Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris and Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke. 2. Revenue has recently published statistics relating to 2025 PAYE tax returns. UK 3. The Institute is urging impacted sole traders and landlords to prepare for Making Tax Digital for income tax which commences on 6 April 2026. 4. Read about how to you can provide input to the call for evidence launched by the UK Government on tax supports for entrepreneurs. International 5. Read about the recent public hearing held by the European Parliament on addressing tax obstacles in the Single Market including related background information. 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.    

Chartered Accountants Ireland and Goodbody invite you to a live webinar on Thursday, 5 February at 11am, where we will explore everything you need to know about investment taxes in Ireland in 2026. Cróna Clohisey, Director of Members and Advocacy at Chartered Accountants Ireland and Catriona Coady, Head of Tax at Goodbody, will share their insights on the evolving tax landscape. Moderated by Grant Sweetnam, Head of Public Policy at Chartered Accountants Ireland, the discussion will cover: Government initiatives to boost retail investment participation The EC Savings and Investment Union Key tax changes impacting Irish investments in 2026 Tax implications by investment vehicle Strategic approaches for investor portfolios There will be an opportunity for a Q&A with our expert panel at the end of the session. ‘Register today’ button: https://goodbody.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lqTsnMp9QHK2ldAbPNPwww#/registration

Comments by the Institute’s Head of Tax, Gearóid O’Sullivan, were included in an Irish Times article on proposed interest tax reforms.

The European Parliament Subcommittee on Tax Matters recently hosted a public hearing on tackling tax obstacles in the Single Market. Experts’ presentations and background documentation can be accessed online on the parliament’s website. 

The latest version of the annual average exchange rates has been updated to include the average market mid-closing rate of various currencies against the Euro for 2025.

The study on the future of EU tax policy harmonisation was presented at last week’s FISC Subcommittee meeting. Focusing on wealth taxation, cryptoassets taxation, digitalisation of tax administration and tax compliance burdens, experts outlined in the study their recommendations for more targeted EU-level coordination which would thereby reduce compliance and enforcement costs. 

The CESOP registration guidelines and guidance has been updated by Revenue to reflect the new agent and advisor e-linking application process and to include information on the procedure for de-registering from CESOP.

The OECD has hosted its sixth Global Forum on VAT to advance international dialogue on efficient, future-ready VAT systems in the context of digital transformation. The importance of global co-ordination on VAT to support trade and investment while safeguarding vital tax revenues was highlighted.  

Revenue has created a new guidance document on the framework, scope, and objectives of the International Cooperation and Capacity Building (ICCD) unit that manages International Cooperation and Technical Assistance and Capacity Building (TACB) requests in Revenue.

Revenue has updated its guidance on the main purpose tests to explain the application of the 'reasonable to consider' test and to clarify how the objective tests should apply.  The guidance outlines that the essence of the ‘reasonable to consider’ test is to assess whether the taxpayer has genuinely considered the tax consequences of a transaction in the same manner as a reasonable taxpayer would do so. The objective ‘main purpose’ test applies to disclosures of a transaction under the mandatory disclosure regime and when assessing a transaction in light of the anti-avoidance provisions under section 811C TCA 1997. When applying a main purpose test, the guidelines outline that it is first necessary to determine if it is objective (what a reasonable man on the street would think) or subjective (what did the taxpayer actually have in mind).  

The OECD has issued a revised version of the Manual on Effective Mutual Agreement Procedures (MEMAP). The updated guidance by the Inclusive Framework on BEPS, is intended to strengthen cross-border tax treaty disputes resolution.