"I look back on her teenage years as being the loveliest stage of her childhood" said no parent, ever. Living with teenagers can be stressful, exhausting, sometimes fulfilling and certainly unpredictable. Here’s some thoughts on how to help your child transition to a happy and healthy young adult, whilst keeping your own professional and personal life on track. Remember you are the expert on what’s right for you and your family, these are only ideas. Be a role model for a happy, healthy and meaningful life Teenagers don’t appear to listen to what we say, but they certainly copy what we do. Pay attention to your own diet, exercise, sleeping habits, alcohol consumption, over-work and other life style choices. That includes letting them observe you having fun and making time for things you enjoy, as well as working and being a parent. It’s not selfish to have outside interests and let your children see that life is for living. Don’t pretend to be a clean-living paragon when you are not. It’s much better for them to see you balance a few days of healthier living to make up for a period of excess, whether through work or play. That’s real life. Turn off the digital devices Teenagers are notoriously critical of their parents so don’t make it easy for them to call you out on double-standards. You can’t expect them to make conversation with you if you are checking your own emails at the dinner table. Try to make some family rules about screen time and stick to them Talk, don’t bottle up your emotions It’s normal to feel frustrated, overwhelmed, and tired from time to time. It’s also normal to feel frustrated or angry with your teenager sometimes too. Reach out to people who will support you. At work, advice and feedback is usually helpful. In our personal lives, you don’t necessarily need advice, just someone to listen to you non-judgementally. It’s ok for your teenagers to see that you can feel vulnerable or overwhelmed from time to time. They will learn how to deal with stressful situations from observing how you cope. Avoid comparisons Other people’s children may appear to be coping much better than yours, and other parents appear to be managing their life and career better also. That may be true, or it may not be. Surround yourself with a supportive network and don’t judge your own family life or other people. Life is a marathon not a sprint. If your children are facing difficulties now, then they will learn from their mistakes and build resilience. Don’t beat yourself or them up for not being perfect. You may even have to relax your high standards – maybe one relaxed, home-cooked meal with all the family round the table each week is enough to aim for? Create an easy space to talk As teens become increasingly independent they often spend more time with their friends than their family. This can feel like a rejection. Try and keep the lines of communication open. It is essential to invest your energy in maintaining a good relationship, even when they have trouble communicating. Talk to them about what you are up to, and perhaps they’ll reciprocate. Find the best time to get them to open up. Many parents say that their teens talk to them when they are taxi-ing them around. If your children are more relaxed in the early evening, then grab a cup of tea and chat to them when you get home, rather than rushing to do chores or doing work. Ditch the guilt Some days you simply have to put your professional life first to cope with the demands facing you. That’s modern life and that’s how you pay the bills. Don’t beat yourself up about it. They’ll respect you for your achievements, even if they don’t show it right now. No one says it is easy to balance work and family life. Smaller children are tiring but they are easier to control than stroppy teenagers. It’s hard for many of us to let go, particularly when we are usually in the driving seat in our personal and professional lives. Pick your battles carefully. Like all childhood phases, this won’t last for ever. Thrive is the Institute's dedicated wellbeing hub that offers emotional support and advice. Looking for more parenting advice, check out our “Back to School”- Managing the Year Ahead webinar. Written by: Zena Everett, Executive Coach. Article reproduced with the kind permission of CABA, the organisation providing lifelong support to ICAEW members, ACA students and their close family around the world.

The Inspiring Excellence 2025 series continued on 26 June with the highly recommended Andy Fell – coach, speaker and business consultant. This session focused on how business leaders can make best use of their time.  Andy presented some simple, practical takeaways based around 11 key frameworks that help busy professionals to be less busy but more brilliant. There was great feedback from those who attended the webinar. You can see Andy's webinar slides here, and a recording of the webinar here.

Revenue has advised there is currently an issue affecting the submission of Form CT1 2025 returns via third-party software. The issue is being dealt with as a matter of priority and a resolution is scheduled for today.

The Minister for Finance has recently issued a press release confirming that the poultry broiler sector will be removed from the VAT Flat-Rate Addition scheme from 1 September 2025. The decision follows advice from the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance that overcompensation is occurring within the sector.  Farmers whose turnover exceeds the relevant thresholds and who are impacted by the change will need to register for VAT if they wish to reclaim VAT on their inputs. The flat-rate addition scheme is designed to reimburse non-VAT registered farmers for the VAT incurred on inputs used in their farming operations. This is achieved by allowing the farmer to add a flat-rate percentage (currently 5.1percent) to the price charged on supplies to a VAT registered person.  EU legislation permits the use of a flat-rate scheme for farmers, with a key condition of the scheme is that it must not lead to farmers being overcompensated for VAT incurred by them on business related expenses. According to the press release, a Revenue investigation in 2018 determined that there was a significant amount of overcompensation occurring in the poultry sector. After a further review over the last 18 months, it has been confirmed that this overcompensation is still occurring. The press release outlines that any queries can be directed to Revenue at the following email address; businesstaxesregistrations@revenue.ie.

Revenue has updated its guidance on Relevant Contracts Tax: Relevant Operations clarifying the treatment of RCT on contracts involving both the construction of property and the sale of land. The guidance also sets out how RCT applies to the deployment of a temporary installation on a site. The updated guidance states that where a contract includes both construction services and the supply of land, only the construction services’ element is subject to RCT. The construction services are also liable to VAT on a reverse charge basis. RCT and the VAT reverse charge do not apply to the consideration for the sale of the land. Where the contract provides for a single consideration covering both the construction services and the sale of the land, the consideration needs to be allocated proportionally by the principal.

Revenue has updated its guidance in Waiver of exemption: Transitional Measures following the High Court judgment in Killarney Consortium C v Revenue Commissioners [2024] IEHC 732. The guidance confirms that from 20 December 2024, any cancellation amount resulting from the cancellation of a waiver will not be collected by Revenue. Prior to the introduction of the new system for VAT on property (from 1 July 2008), leases were divided into short leases (those for a period of less than 10 years) and long leases (those for a period of 10 years or more). In general, short leases were exempt from VAT, but a landlord could waive this exemption. Although no new waivers could commence from 1 July 2008 onwards, pre-existing waivers remained valid for a property which had been acquired by the lessor before that date. Furthermore, if a waiver was subsequently cancelled, the legislation included a clawback mechanism requiring a repayment to Revenue of any input VAT claimed in excess of output VAT paid under the waiver. The waiver cancellation provisions were the focus of the Killarney Consortium case, whereby the consortium contended that EU VAT law does not impose a clawback solely because the level of input VAT deducted exceeds the output VAT paid. The High Court, in upholding the decision of the Tax Appeals Commission, held that the waiver cancellation in these circumstances was contrary to EU law and the principle of fiscal neutrality. The court affirmed that where a business is fully engaged in taxable supplies it is entitled to deduct input VAT on purchases made for the purposes of those taxable supplies.

Revenue has issued an eBrief confirming that revised REIT forms are now available on the Revenue website. REITs with accounting periods ending between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025 are required to file an annual statement (Form REIT 3) on or before 28 February 2026. Links to the revised Form REIT3 and the updated Forms REIT1, REIT2, REIT 2A are included in the eBrief.

Last week, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) published its Quarterly Economic Commentary. In the press release which accompanied the publication, the ESRI refers to the ongoing strength and expansion of the Irish economy but also highlights the downward revisions to global growth forecasts due to the uncertainty caused by the changing position on tariffs. Unemployment is expected to remain low at just over 4 percent across the forecast horizon with real wage growth of 3.5 percent forecasted in 2025 and 2.3 percent in 2026. The ESRI reported total tax revenues continue to perform well, however, corporate tax revenues are lower in the first five months of this year compared to January to May 2024. In an overall assessment, the ESRI highlighted three key concerns: the status on tariffs, the influence of windfall corporate revenues on the public finances and the number of housing completions. 

The latest UK tax tidbits features updated guidance in a wide range of areas. Employment intermediaries reporting requirements, Check if you're an employment intermediary, How to get an agent code for Corporation Tax or Self-Assessment, Agent authorisation: apply using HMRC paper forms, Updating your tax agent contact details with HMRC, Claim a refund of Construction Industry Scheme deductions if you're a limited company or an agent, Help with the Apprenticeship Levy and Employment Allowance — connected entities — GfC10, Check genuine HMRC contact that uses more than one communication method, Change in bonus rates for Save As You Earn (SAYE) share option schemes, Tell HMRC about a transferor or settlor who is domiciled outside of the UK (D31), Tell HMRC about a transferor or settlor who is not a long-term UK resident (D31a), Tell HMRC about a transferor or settlor who is a long-term UK resident, when transitional provisions apply (D31b), Check employment status if you work in hair and beauty, Find software suppliers for the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), Your responsibilities under money laundering supervision, Check genuine HMRC contact that uses more than one communication method, Extra Support Team, Compliance checks: The Human Rights Act and penalties — CC/FS9, CC/FS72 DSC1 Corresponding with HMRC by email, Check if an email you've received from HMRC is genuine, Named tax avoidance schemes, promoters, enablers and suppliers, Issue briefing: Loan charge letters, Help with charitable giving on your Self-Assessment tax return, List of approved professional organisations and learned societies (List 3), Payroll Giving agencies approved by HMRC, Air Passenger Duty and connected flights, Gilt-edged securities exempt from Capital Gains Tax, Check the status of tax policy consultations, Check if a business is registered for money laundering supervision, Appeals reviews and tribunals guidance, Alternative Dispute Resolution Guidance, Named tax avoidance schemes, promoters, enablers and suppliers, Check if a business is registered for money laundering supervision, Make a subject access request to HMRC, Inheritance Tax: return of estate information (C5 (OUK) (2006)), Set up a limited company: step by step, Warning for agency workers and contractors who are moved between umbrella companies (Spotlight 71), Tell HMRC about the end of a qualifying interest in possession (IHT100b), and Report Climate Change Levy subsidies to HMRC.  

Revenue has recently updated three other Tax and Duty Manuals. The updated manuals relate to the taxation of children’s pensions; the taxation of short term and occupational illness benefits and guidance on permanent health benefit schemes. Details are set out below. The guidance on the taxation of children’s pensions payable under pension schemes has been updated to confirm that any additional Jobseeker’s benefit (self-employed) or Jobseeker’s pay related benefit amounts received for dependent children are not assessable on the parent or guardian. The updated guidance on the taxation of Short-Term Illness Benefit and Occupational Injury Benefit confirms that the Department of Social Protection provides relevant claim details to Revenue allowing them to update an employee’s tax credits and rate band. The guidance on the relief for contributions to Permanent Health Benefit schemes and the taxation of benefits received has been updated to provide additional details on claiming the relief. The contact details for the relevant branch within Revenue dealing with these schemes are also included in the manual.

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 most recently published Brexit and Beyond newsletter from the Northern Ireland Assembly EU Affairs team. HMRC has also confirmed that the implementation of CERTEX has been delayed from 28 June 2025. Delay to the implementation of CERTEX  CERTEX, the system that will verify licence data on declarations for goods movements which will replace the Automatic Licence Verification System (ALVS) for Northern Ireland, was due to commence from 28 June 2025. Last week we were advised that it has not been implemented from that date and that a new implementation date has not yet been set. Any actions traders may need to take depends on whether they are moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland or from the Rest of the World to Northern Ireland. However, they should continue to follow standard processes for controlled goods in Northern Ireland, including reporting for inspections where required to do so.   Moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland  Note that this delay does not affect the use of the new Common Health Entry Document (CHED) reference format on traders’ declarations which must be used from 28 June 2025. The reference format is letters followed by numbers and includes the full stop character, for example, 'CHEDA.XI.2025.1234567'.  From 28 June 2025, declarations using the existing format (e.g. ‘GBCHD2025.1234567’) will not be rejected, however HMRC is encouraging traders to use the new format in readiness for the implementation of CERTEX at a later date.  Traders will not receive CERTEX specific messages for these movements in the Customs Declarations Service (CDS) so they must continue to monitor the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) at GVMS locations or the respective inventory system at inventory locations. For detailed guidance, please visit GOV.UK.  Moving goods from Rest of World to Northern Ireland   This delay means traders must not use the new Common Health Entry Document (CHED) format on their declarations from 28 June 2025. They must continue to use the existing format found in Appendix 5a, for example, ‘GBCHD2025.1234567’.  If they have pre-lodged any declarations using the new format these must be changed before arrival on the CDS. Failure to use the correct CHED format will result in rejections or holds on goods once the goods arrive and potential delays in getting the goods released. Traders should continue to monitor CDS for any ‘ALVS’ messages.  HMRC will provide further information in due course and has confirmed that the processes for making a declaration or obtaining a licence remain unchanged. It has also been confirmed that HMRC’s guidance on C085 still stands; no changes are being made to this. For support for goods in movement, contact the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on 0300 200 7852 or email daera.helpline@daera-ni.gov.uk. For general support with freight movements, traders can contact the Trader Support Service team, or call the HMRC Customs and International Trade helpline on‌‌‌ 0300‌‌‌ 322‌‌‌ 9434‌‌‌ (textphone 0300‌‌‌ 200‌‌‌ 3719).   For support with parcels movements, traders can contact their parcel express operator. Please note this change does not impact express operators moving consumer parcels under the UK Carrier Scheme.   Miscellaneous guidance updates and publications This week’s miscellaneous guidance updates and publications are as follows: Data Element 2/3: Documents and Other Reference Codes (Union) of the Customs Declaration Service, Search the register of customs agents and express operators, Data Element 2/3: Documents and Other Reference Codes (National) of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), Maritime ports and wharves location codes for Data Element 5/23 of the Customs Declaration Service, External temporary storage facilities codes for Data Element 5/23 of the Customs Declaration Service, Software developers providing customs declaration software, Known error workarounds for the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), Authorisation type codes for Data Element 3/39 of the Customs Declaration Service, Reading notes for Declaration Category Data Sets: CDS Declaration and Customs Clearance Request Instructions, CDS Declaration Completion Instructions for Exports, Appendix 1: DE 1/10: Requested and Previous Procedure Codes of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), CDS Declaration Completion Instructions for Imports, Appendix 21: Import Declaration Category Data Sets, and 4-digit to 3-digit procedure to additional procedure code correlation matrix for imports.

The Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union has published the 2025 edition of the Annual Report on Taxation. The report presents an indicator-based analysis of the design and performance of Member States’ tax systems. It aims to provide policymakers across the EU with insights that can help them to improve the functioning of their tax systems.