Revenue has published information on the changes made to excise duty rates as part of Budget 2023 and has updated a number of Tax and Duty Manuals. Details on the changes made to excise duty rates as part of Budget 2022 are included in Tax and Duty Manual Budget 2023 - Excise Duty Rates. The Tax and Duty Manual Tobacco Products Tax has also been updated to reflect changes to the excise duty rates that take effect from 28 September 2022.

Revenue published its Budget 2023 summary, detailing the key measures in this year’s budget.

Revenue has updated its Tax and Duty Manual on Phased Payment Arrangements (PPA). The guidance now reflects the enhanced PPA system that allows for PPA consolidation. It also sets out temporary changes to PPA during Covid-19 which remain in place. Previously taxpayers were unable to add additional liabilities to their existing PPA. However, the ability to add extra periods to a PPA has become a necessity because of the need to incorporate warehoused debt into a PPA at the end of the Debt Warehouse Period 2. The enhanced PPA system allows for PPA consolidation, providing taxpayers greater flexibility in the management of their PPA. Taxpayers can apply for PPA consolidation on ROS. Further information regarding Debt Warehousing Scheme PPAs is available here.

Revenue would like to remind members about the filing obligations of charitable organisations and to highlight that those charities that do not hold tax exemption must file returns. Revenue has issued a note stating: “If a registered charity wishes to apply to Revenue for tax exemption, an application must be submitted, through Revenue’s online applications system, which can be done via ROS. Where Revenue grants tax exemption to a registered charity, it issues a CHY number to that charity; this indicates that the charity has tax exempt status. A registered charity that does not hold tax exemption is obliged to file all returns, as appropriate, to Revenue. There is no obligation on tax exempt charities to file tax returns to Revenue for the taxes to which the exemption applies. They must file returns for those taxes to which the exemption does not apply. Any enquiries in this regard can be sent via Revenue’s secure online MyEnquiries facility.” Details about applying for tax exemption are available here.

Mindful of the disruption that may arise for taxpayers and their agents as Ulster Bank and KBC leave the Irish banking market, Revenue has confirmed that, where members have previously set up RDIs for their clients with Ulster Bank or KBC bank accounts, a change of bank details on ROS will update the RDI. Any queries that may arise should be sent to ROS Payment Support via MyEnquiries, selecting ‘Other than the above’ and then by selecting ‘Revenue On-line Service (ROS) Payments’ from the ‘more specifically’ menu. Revenue will shortly be writing to all ROS customers advising on how to update bank details quickly and securely through its online channels to avoid disruption to payments or refunds during the upcoming Pay & File period. In addition, messaging on updated bank details will display on ROS and MyAccount screens from 10 October. Agents should maintain similar awareness with their clients who may be using an Ulster Bank or KBC account for payments and refunds.  If a customer misses their payment due to delay in the update of bank details, they should engage with Revenue in the first instance via the My Enquiries channels set out above, to outline their difficulty and Revenue will work with the taxpayer or their agent to address the matter on a case-by-case basis.     

In Irish tax developments Revenue is issuing ROS notifications to employers about EWSS payments and PRSI credits made in error between 18 and 28 October, and 10,000 more Form 11s were filed on the November 2021 income tax deadline compared to last year. On the UK front, HMRC has published updated guidance on the tax treatment of COVID-19 supports and tax administration and maintenance day is due to take place next week. While in international news, OECD and Eurasian officials discuss the BEPS Inclusive Framework. Ireland Revenue will issue ROS notifications to employers who claimed Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) payments and PRSI credits in error between 18 and 28 October. Revenue is also in the process of deregistering another cohort of employers not actively claiming EWSS. Revenue told Chartered Accountants Ireland that the number of Form 11 returns filed for 2020 is 560,267 which is 10,000 higher than last year. Revenue is processing requests from 137 tax agents seeking extensions for approximately 3,400 clients under Revenue’s exceptional circumstance facility. UK                 Read HMRC’s updated guidance on the tax treatment of COVID-19 supports. Tax administration and maintenance day is due to take place next week. International Eurasian Countries recently discussed the development and monitoring of international tax standards with the OECD. 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.

The details of the procedure for accountants in exceptional difficulty to make an arrangement with Revenue for the income tax deadline are set out in our Irish tax developments, along with confirmation from Revenue that arrangements for accountants reporting turnover for VAT Form 56A continue to apply. On the UK front, read this week’s updates on HMRC administered COVID-19 supports and we also bring you news of a new economic crime levy. While in international news, with Ireland signing up to the OECD global minimum tax agreement, 136 jurisdictions including all EU Member States and OECD members have agreed the two pillar plan.     Ireland Revenue set out the process for accountants in exceptional difficulty for the upcoming income tax deadline to seek to put an arrangement in place. Long-standing arrangements for accountings to support a client’s VAT Form 56A application continue to be recognised by Revenue. UK           Read this week’s updates on HMRC administered COVID-19 supports. HM Treasury has published more information on a new economic crime levy on professional firms and financial institutions. International The OECD two pillar plan on international tax reform is agreed by 136 jurisdictions, including Ireland. 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 Newsletter by updating your preferences in MyAccount. 

In Irish tax developments, Business Resumption Support Scheme guidelines are now available. On the UK front, HMRC provides an update in response to issues with the 30-day CGT reporting service for residential property disposals. While in international news, the European Commission has extended the scope of certain aid measures under the General Block Exemption Regulation. Ireland Revenue recently published guidelines for the Business Resumption Support Scheme which will support businesses significantly impacted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, even during periods when restrictions were eased.  A copy of the CG50A certificate is now available in the ROS inbox of the filer of the CG50 applications. UK              HMRC has published further details of the temporary solution to issues with the 30-day residential property disposal service. HMRC has issued a reminder that individuals can claim working from home expenses quickly and easily online.   International   The European Commission has extended the scope of the General Block Exemption Regulation which will allow Member States to implement certain aid measures without prior Commission scrutiny.   Keep up to date with all the latest Irish, UK, and international tax developments through Chartered Accountants Ireland’s Tax Newsletter.

The MyEnquiries tracking of enquiries function has been enhanced to provide an indication of enquiry status.  The enquiry status visible on the Enquiries Record is one of the following:  Received, In Progress, Completed, Awaiting Customer Feedback or Revenue Initiated.  See eBrief No. 149/21 for full details.

The Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) Tax and Duty Manual is updated to clarify the registration procedure (paragraph 5) and reporting obligations (paragraph 9) for intermediaries under the new VAT eCommerce rules introduced on 1 July 2021 which extends the VAT Mini One Stop Shop to a One Stop Shop, deems online marketplaces and platforms as suppliers for certain transactions, introduces a new Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) and special arrangements for certain imports of goods. Non-EU suppliers need to appoint an EU established intermediary to avail of the IOSS.  The role of the intermediary is to fulfil the obligations of the IOSS on behalf of the supplier. The intermediary is responsible for the declaration and payment of the VAT due on the importation of goods with an intrinsic value not exceeding €150. An intermediary will be jointly and severally liable with the supplier they represent where the Revenue deems it necessary.   In such cases, a notice will issue to both parties from the Revenue Commissioners to notify them that joint and several liability applies. This will apply on a prospective basis. See Revenue’s  IOSS guide and eBrief No. 143/21 for more details. 

Tax and Duty Manual Part 41A-05-04 - Full Self-Assessment: Time limits for making enquiries and raising assessments - is amended in Paragraph 4 to clarify the circumstances  where assessments can be amended and to confirm that assessments can be made or amended outside the four-year  timeframe on conclusion of a Mutual Agreement Procedure, as provided for in section 959AA(2A) TCA 1997.  Revenue cannot make or amend an assessment on a chargeable person who delivered a full and true return later than 4 years after the end of the chargeable period in which the return is filed, meaning that no additional tax can be payable and no tax can be repayable after this time.   However, at any time, Revenue can amend an assessment: where the return was not a full and true disclosure to give effect to the determination of an appeal to reflect an event which happened after the return is filed to correct a calculation error in the assessment to correct any mistake of fact which was disclosed by the taxpayer and not correctly reflected in the assessment or to give effect to bilateral Mutual Agreement Procedures reached between Revenue and a competent authority in another jurisdiction with which Ireland has a Double Taxation Agreement. See eBrief No. 145/21 for more details. 

Tax and Duty Manuals Part 15-01-30 (Seafarer Allowance) and Part 15-01-45 (Fisher Tax Credit) have been amended as a consequence of the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 coming into operation. The changes ensure that following Brexit the status quo regarding eligibility for the allowance/tax credit is retained.  See Revenue’s website for further details.