The OECD has published a revised BEPS Action 5 Transparency Framework on tax rulings following its review of the of the effectiveness of the transparency framework. This review has resulted in several changes to enhance the effectiveness. In addition, the report contains revised terms of reference applicable from the 2025 review year, as well as the revised assessment methodology for peer reviews to commence in 2026.

In this week’s detailed miscellaneous updates which you can read more about below, HMRC has sent an update on employee car ownership scheme changes and the latest bi-monthly Employer Bulletin was published recently. In other news this week: Last month HMRC published its internal manual on the administration of the Multinational Top-up Tax and the Domestic Top-up Tax under the UK’s Pillar Two rules,  The latest schedule of HMRC Talking Points live and recorded webinars for tax agents are available for booking. Spaces are limited, so take a look now and save your place, and Check HMRC’s online services availability page for details of planned downtime and the online services affected. Update on employee car ownership scheme changes and Euro 6e emissions standard As part of L-day on Monday 21 July the Government published draft legislation on changes to employee car ownership schemes. The decision has since been taken to delay implementation six months to 6 October 2026. The draft legislation on this remains open for technical consultation prior to final legislation being brought forward at the next Finance Bill. The relevant publications are as follows: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament, and Finance Bill 2025/26. In addition, the Government will be consulting in due course on introducing the Euro 6e emissions standard for cars and vans from April 2026. This standard will introduce more stringent real-world testing for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) which in turn will lead to higher official CO₂ emission ratings and thus higher benefits in kind (BIKs). However, it was also announced on L-day that the Government does not intend for this to apply to BIKs until April 2028, in order to avoid significant increases for PHEV company cars. Further details are awaited on how this will work, however the overall intention is to ensure that BIK charges will be based on current emissions standards until April 2028, rather than the new Euro 6e standard.  Latest Employer Bulletin The August edition of HMRC’s Employer Bulletin includes articles on: 2024/25 P11D and P11D(b) forms, PAYE settlement agreements: calculations and payments, Disputed PAYE charges, Preparing businesses for the vaping products duty and the vaping duty stamps scheme, and Implementation of the Employment Rights Bill.

In this week’s post EU exit corner, we bring you the latest guidance updates and publications relevant in the post EU exit environment. The most recent Trader Support Service bulletin is also available as is the latest Brexit and Beyond newsletter from the Northern Ireland Assembly EU Affairs team. DEFRA has also sent an email setting out details of locations which are no longer valid points of entry for plant health imports into Northern Ireland. Miscellaneous guidance updates and publications This week’s miscellaneous guidance updates and publications are as follows: Designated export place (DEP) codes for Data Element 5/23 of the Customs Declaration Service, Report a problem using the Customs Declaration Service, CDS Declaration Completion Instructions for Imports, CDS Declaration Completion Instructions for Exports, Short shipments at temporary storage locations, Appendix 1: DE 1/10: Requested and Previous Procedure Codes, Appendix 1: DE 1/10: Requested and Previous Procedure Codes, Requested Procedure 10: Permanent Export or Dispatch, Requested Procedure 11: Inward Processing Prior Export Equivalence, Requested Procedure 21: Temporary Export under Outward Processing, Requested Procedure 22: Temporary Export or Dispatch under Outward Processing if not covered by Procedure 21, Requested Procedure 23: Temporary export for return of goods in the unaltered state (Returned Goods Relief), and Requested Procedure 31: Re-export or Dispatch of non-Union goods following a Special Procedure.  

The OECD has published the 2025 edition of Taxing Wages , which enables stakeholders to understand how tax systems affect incomes and income distributions, as well as incentives to work. This publication offers a timely snapshot of how labour taxation is evolving, as real wages recover, inflation eases and the need for higher revenues increases.

In Irish news this week, the Institute, under the auspices of the CCAB-I, met with Minister Donohoe to discuss the CCAB-I’s Pre-Budget 2026 submission, Revenue has published new guidance on the domestic layer of the EU VAT SME scheme, and the Pillar Two registration facility and hub are now active. In UK news, read our latest update on Making Tax Digital for income tax and we’d like to hear your views on three technical consultations on draft legislation. Irish 1. Read about the recent meeting with Minister Donohoe to discuss the CCAB-I’s Pre-Budget 2026 submission. 2. Revenue has issued guidance on the domestic element of the EU VAT SME scheme. 3. Revenue has launched a dedicated Pillar Two hub and the registration portal for Pillar Two in scope companies is now active. UK 4. Read our update on the latest developments in Making Tax Digital for income tax which includes details of two CPD webinars this month, each with a different focus, and news of a new HMRC agent outreach campaign. 5. We’re seeking your feedback on three consultations launched on L Day in July, two of which are of particular significance to tax agents. 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 post EU exit corner here.  

Revenue has recently updated two other Tax and Duty Manuals. The updated manuals relate to iXBRL submissions and the completion of corporation tax returns. Details are set out below. The manual Submission of iXBRL Financial Statements as part of Corporation Tax Returns has been updated for a full list of taxonomies accepted by Revenue, together with a reference list of taxonomies that are no longer accepted. The guidance on the completion of Corporation Tax returns -Form CT1 has been updated to include links to the manuals relating to the completion of the corporation tax returns for 2024 and 2023.

Revenue has published new VAT guidance on broiler chicken services following their exclusion from the flat-rate farmers addition with effect from 1 September 2025.  The new guidance applies to the supply to any agricultural service of stock minding, rearing and fattening during the production of broiler chickens. Further details are included in our news item on 30 June 2025. The existing VAT guidance for flat-rate farmers has also been updated to reflect the ministerial order.

Revenue has recently confirmed that the 2024 Form CT1 for corporation tax is available for filing via ROS online and the ROS Return Preparation Facility (RPF) has been available since April 2024. Revenue has published guidance on the completion of the 2024 return and information on the RPF is outlined in related guidance also issued by Revenue. The changes flagged in the guidance on the filing of the 2024 corporation tax return includes: Updates to the company details panel (paragraph 1), including new sections for De Minimis Aid, Outbound Payments Defensive Measures, Group Relief and, S299 Leases, Updates to the Trading Results Panel (paragraph 2) and further guidance on iXBRL filing (paragraph 3.1), Updates to the Irish Rental Income panel (paragraph 4) to include updated guidance on Non-Resident Landlord Withholding Tax (NLWT), Expanded sections in Irish Investment and Other Incomes (paragraph 5) including further guidance on Digital Games Credit (paragraph 5.3), Updates to Research and Development Credit (paragraph 8) to the S766, S766A, S766C, and S766D panels to reflect legislative changes, and Updated guidance on Close Company Surcharge (paragraph 9) and updates to the Recovery of Income Tax panel (paragraph 10).

Revenue has published new guidance on the exemption from income tax or corporation tax for certain categories of national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport. The manual explains how the exemption will operate, outlines relevant definitions and provides examples where the exemption will and will not apply. The exemption applies to income which the body can hold for up to ten years provided the income is ultimately applied for certain qualifying purposes. Qualifying purposes include capital projects, the purchase of certain sporting equipment, supporting elite athletes in competitive sport, and supporting the participation of women and people with disabilities in sport.

Revenue has updated the Irish Real Estate Fund (IREF) Guidance Note to clarify the operation of section 739LB TCA 1997 and to include a relevant example in section 2.2 of the manual relating to other excessive deductions. The example included in section 2.2, example 23, relates to a limited circumstance where Revenue is prepared to accept that a disbursement or expense which is wholly and exclusively incurred in respect of non-IREF property assets, may be treated as not being a disallowed amount for the purposes of section 739LB. The guidance has also been updated in section 5 to highlight reporting obligations where an IREF ceases to be an IREF during an accounting period.

Revenue has updated the guidance on PAYE Exclusion Order to provide details of the new online PAYE exclusion order application portal available through ROS or MyAccount. Revenue is encouraging use of the online application portal to facilitate faster processing times, however written applications for PAYE exclusion orders are still permitted. The guidance has also been updated to remove obsolete information and to update the relevant examples. Contact details for the Department of Social Protection have also been included.  

The EU VAT SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) scheme which came into effect in January 2025 aims to reduce the administrative burden and compliance cost on SMEs, and to encourage cross-border trade. The scheme has both a cross border and domestic element and Revenue has recently published new guidance on the domestic layer of this scheme. The guidance explains how to access the domestic VAT scheme, outlines the relevant VAT registration turnover thresholds in Ireland, and provides instructions on calculating turnover to determine eligibility. Further details on the EU VAT SME scheme are available in earlier news items on 22 April 2025 and 24 March 2025.