Chartered Accountants Ireland Calls for Bold Action on Corporation Tax to Secure Northern Ireland’s Economic Future... Chartered Accountants Ireland has today launched a landmark policy paper, Enhancing Our Competitiveness, advocating for the urgent introduction of a reduced rate of corporation tax in Northern Ireland to drive inward investment, economic growth, and job creation. The report, published by the largest professional body on the island of Ireland, is being unveiled at a special event in Belfast attended by senior business leaders, policymakers, and members of the accountancy profession.  Amid global economic turbulence and increasing competition for foreign direct investment (FDI), Northern Ireland holds a unique position with dual access to both the UK and EU markets. However, Chartered Accountants Ireland warns that this perceived advantage is being undermined by a corporation tax rate that is currently double that of the Republic of Ireland. Pamela McCreedy, President of Chartered Accountants Ireland said: “In a turbulent trading environment, Northern Ireland is in the enviable position of benefiting from unfettered access to both the UK and EU markets. No other economy can boast this. If the enormous potential that dual market access offers is to be fully realised, then it must be supported by complementary industrial policies that further boost the region’s attractiveness, including a more competitive rate of corporation tax. “Our message is clear: Northern Ireland cannot afford to stand still. A competitive corporation tax rate is essential to bolster our investment proposition and unlock the full potential of Northern Ireland’s dual-market access. “This report calls on our policymakers to take bold action. By embracing fiscal reforms that align Northern Ireland’s tax policy with its economic ambitions, we can foster an environment that attracts investment, nurtures entrepreneurship, and secures a prosperous future for generations to come.” The policy paper outlines a clear case for reform: • 60% of Chartered Accountants in Northern Ireland support devolving corporation tax powers to the Northern Ireland Executive. • A reduced rate would make the region more attractive to investors, help create high-value jobs, and level the playing field with neighbouring jurisdictions. • Lessons from the Republic of Ireland’s long-standing 12.5% rate demonstrate the potential for sustained revenue growth over time. • Research published by the Economic and Social Research Institute in Ireland found that if a 15% minimum corporation tax rate were introduced in NI, this “would increase the number of high-value FDI going to Northern Ireland by 7.5% per annum.” • In terms of implementing the rate without impacting Northern Ireland’s block grant, the paper suggests it could be feasible to replace any reduction in the block grant brought about by the lower rate with a special low-interest loan from the UK Government. The ultimate ambition behind the launch of a reduced rate of corporation tax is that it will become self-funding in the medium to long term. The paper proposes implementing a Northern Ireland-specific rate—potentially 12.5%—with protections for larger companies subject to the OECD’s 15% minimum. Crucially, it recommends securing a long-term guarantee on the rate for at least twenty years to provide certainty to investors. To safeguard public finances, the paper calls for negotiations with HM Treasury to mitigate any short-term impact on the block grant through measures such as a special low-interest loan. This approach has been backed by the Independent Fiscal Commission and leading tax experts across the region. Zara Duffy, Head of Northern Ireland at Chartered Accountants Ireland said: “Reducing the corporation tax rate is the single most transformative fiscal lever available to us. Tax policy is more than just a fiscal lever—it is a statement of intent. A reduced corporation tax rate would send a strong signal to investors, entrepreneurs, and businesses that Northern Ireland is serious about growth, innovation, and job creation.” Chartered Accountants Ireland is calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to move swiftly - initiating a public consultation, revisiting the 2016 HMRC Memorandum of Understanding, and working in partnership with Westminster to implement the policy. The Corporation Tax (Northern Ireland) Bill received Royal Assent on 26 March 2015. It enabled the transfer of corporation tax rate setting powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly, subject to implementation of key measures to deliver sustainable finances. As yet, it is a measure to boost the Northern Ireland economy which remains untried. Chartered Accountants Ireland has spearheaded the campaign for a devolved Corporation Tax rate for Northern Ireland for many years, having first campaigned for the change as far back as 2004. The Institute has made countless submissions to various government inquiries, review groups and to HMRC and presented evidence to the House of Commons’ Northern Ireland Affairs Committee in Westminster.  As Northern Ireland faces mounting pressure to rejuvenate its economic model and compete more effectively on the international stage, Chartered Accountants Ireland along with many in the business community, feels strongly that the time is right to take a fresh look at reducing the Corporation Tax rate in Northern Ireland. Enhancing Our Competitiveness can be viewed HERE  

In UK news this week, HMRC has provided an update to the Institute following the public announcement that £47 million has been paid out in fraudulent tax repayments and HMRC has published a provisional update on its phone performance. In Irish news, the Fiscal Monitor for May 2025 has been released and Revenue has published guidance on the cross-border VAT SME scheme. In International news, the European Commission publishes the 2025 country report for Ireland. UK 1. Read about the update from HMRC to the Institute on the recent phishing scam. 2. HMRC has released provisional details on its phone performance for March 2025. Ireland 3. The Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have published the Fiscal Monitor for May 2025 which confirms an Exchequer surplus of €4.0 billion to the end of May. 4. Revenue has published a new Tax and Duty manual on the operation of the Cross-Border VAT SME scheme. International 5. Read about the 2025 country report for Ireland which was recently published by the European Commission. 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.  

A fantastic couple of days in the sunshine were enjoyed by members at the 2025 trip to County Sligo Golf Club at Rosses Point. Congratulations to all the winners and participants. The Cecil Donovan Inter Firms trophy was taken home by the Forvis Mazars team. The ladies winner Sinead Devine and men's winner Dan Henry. The Ulster team celebrated the Lorimer Trophy win! A huge thank you to Captain Eugene McMahon for this years successful event and we wish incoming Captain Joan Curry and the committee, Tom McAvoy and Don Hoctor well for the 2025 / 2026 term.

Maintaining and achieving good health is imperative for our physical and mental wellbeing. However, there are barriers that can get in the way of keeping our body and mind healthy, especially for men. Therefore, it is important to recognise what prevents or deters men from seeking help and support when it comes to their health. Here, the Thrive Wellbeing Hub explores these barriers and shares simple but effective steps to keeping healthy both physically and mentally. Knowledge & Awareness Although men are not a homogenous group, there are similarities when it comes to awareness and knowledge of health issues compared to females. Men are prone to engage in more unhealthy habits compared to females. Females on average have a higher life expectancy, males tend to have higher rates of obesity, a greater proportion of males smoke, and there is higher participation in binge drinking and drug use. Poor lifestyles are responsible for a large proportion of chronic diseases. The four main causes of death among males in Ireland are cancer, circulatory system diseases, respiratory system diseases, and external causes of injury and poisoning. It is suggested that men tend to be less informed about the risk factors, causation and symptoms of poor health and certain diseases. This lack of knowledge and awareness may prevent men from seeking help as they are simply unaware of the symptoms surrounding certain illnesses. Therefore, it is important for us to educate ourselves on the signs and symptoms of poor health. Perception As outlined above, men tend to adopt unhealthier behaviours and are at greater risk for all leading causes of death. However, men are less likely to consult or visit a health professional compared to women and perception is a significant barrier to males engaging in health-seeking behaviours. This is where the severity of a health concern is underestimated or brushed off as nothing serious. Late presentation to health services is a cause for concern and can lead to health issues worsening or becoming untreatable. It's important to take action as soon as you notice something isn't quite right. Stigma Gender roles and the construct of masculinity have been cited as barriers to men looking after their health, especially when it comes to mental health. Perceptions associated with masculinity can result in men being more reluctant to speak out on mental health issues or engage in help-seeking behaviour for fear of being seen as weak or not embodying the traditional and frankly outdated attributes of what is considered masculine. This stigma allows for men’s mental health needs to often fly under the radar. This is evident in the high suicide rates of males in Ireland. In 2023, there were 232 male deaths by suicide, accounting for three out of every four suicide deaths in Ireland (CSO).  Thankfully, this ideology is shifting, and men’s attitudes and awareness of mental health are changing. Being honest and open with yourself about how you are feeling and communicating this to loved ones or a mental health professional is so important. Proactive Steps Men and those who support them have an active role to play in encouraging and supporting men to take small steps to be proactive in both their physical and mental health. Let’s challenge ourselves to take action and incorporate small changes to help improve our overall health: Eat well Exercise and spend time outdoors Reduce alcohol intake Know the signs of poor mental health, suicidal ideations, and other health conditions Schedule a medical, arrange a blood test and engage in screening services and programmes Talk and Listen – Confide in a loved one or someone impartial, ask if everything is okay, listen and help empower the men in our lives to take action If you are struggling with your mental or emotional wellbeing, Thrive can help you on your journey to better health. For wellbeing advice, contact the team by email at: thrive@charteredaccountants.ie or by phone: (+353) 86 0243294.

On 20 May 2025 the EU adopted its 17th package of sanctions against Russia. The European Council writes that the package is part of an even broader set of EU measures also targeting Russia’s hybrid activities, domestic violations of human rights and the use of riot control agents by Russian forces in Ukraine, under three other sanctions regimes. The measures agreed cover Russia’s shadow fleet, energy, military, and occupied territories. You can read more details on the 17th Package on the European Council webpage which has links to the various legal acts to bring the 17th package into force.   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.

Congratulations to the newly appointed North West Society Committee for the 2025 / 2026 term. Sorcha Sweeney has been appointed as Chair and Ann Harte as Vice Chair with Marion Prendergast and Gerry Maher taking on the Officer positions as Treasurer and Secretary respectively. Thank you to retiring committee members Pierce Maloney and Sandra Canavan for their commitment this year. To outgoing Chair Maura Ginty, a very sincere thank you from all the committee for your hard work, dedication and fun along the way! Click the link to see the full North West Society committee for 2025 / 2026: NW Committee 25 26

Revenue has published updated guidelines for Phased Payment Arrangements to update details on relevant terms and to remove obsolete details.

The Central Statistics Office has published the Quarterly National Accounts – Provisional for the first quarter of 2025 confirming GDP increased by 9.7 percent on a quarterly basis in the first quarter of this year. Modified Domestic Demand grew by 0.8 per cent relative to the previous quarter and by 1 per cent on an annual basis. The publication outlines an increase of 2.5 percent in consumer spending in the first quarter and a substantial increase in goods exported. Commenting on the figures, Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe said: “Today’s figures confirm the relatively strong position of the domestic economy at the start of this year. Looking ahead, however, the economic outlook has become increasingly challenging. Indeed, the significant increase in uncertainty is likely weighing on growth”

The Parliamentary Budget Office recently published the Tax Receipts Dashboard which presents net tax receipts data in a visual and interactive manner. The dashboard looks at the makeup of the tax base, and analyses tax receipts by tax head, economic sector and by county. The dashboard outlines that the manufacturing sector, which includes the pharmaceutical industry, represented 15.5 percent of total tax receipts in 2024. This represented a fourfold increase since 2011 primarily driven by higher corporation tax yields. The information and communication sector contributed 11.94 percent of receipts, reflecting a seven-fold increase since 2011. In 2024, total net receipts of €44 million arose in Dublin, with Cork reporting total receipts of €26.5 million including receipts arising from the Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in the Apple State Aid case. All other counties account for approximately or less than €2 billion each. The publication includes a note with information on how to use and interact with the dashboard.

Revenue has launched a campaign encouraging PAYE taxpayers to complete an end of year tax review through the myAccount service. As part of the review, the service allows taxpayers to claim tax credits and reliefs and details of the more common tax credits and reliefs are available through links in the campaign launch page. Revenue has confirmed it will agree payment options with taxpayers where a tax liability arises, and tax refunds will be paid within a few days of completing the end of year review.

Last week, the US Administration announced an increase on the rate of tariffs on steel imports into the US from 25 percent to 50 percent. Following a meeting between the EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Paris, the Tánaiste, Simon Harris released a statement welcoming the discussions and highlighting the need for “a substantive, calm, measured and comprehensive dialogue”. The Tánaiste’s full statement can be read below: "I welcome that the EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met in Paris earlier today to advance EU-US negotiations. This is a positive step. Ireland’s consistent position remains that we need substantive, calm, measured and comprehensive dialogue with the United States. "While we want to see an agreement, my department will continue to work actively across Government and with stakeholders to understand the impact of the US tariffs on Irish business, as well as preparing for EU rebalancing measures, if they are required. "The government regrets the increase of US tariffs on steel imports from 25% to 50%, which came into effect today. This latest move by the US adds further uncertainty to the global economy and increases costs for consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. "I wish to reiterate our full support for dialogue. The objective remains to reach a mutually beneficial agreement that includes reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers, promoting economic security, as well as facilitating business opportunities and investment. At the same time, it is correct that the EU is doing preparatory work on a range of potential re-balancing measures, should negotiations fail."

Revenue has published guidelines for the Cross Border Operation of the EU VAT SME scheme (VSME). The VSME alleviates the compliance obligations of small businesses by allowing the supply of goods and services to EU customers without incurring an obligation to charge VAT. An Irish established business can avail of the scheme provided the business’ annual turnover within the European Union does not exceed €100,000 in the current and previous years. The small business must also not exceed the annual turnover threshold, in the current and previous calendar years, of the Member State(s) in which they want to utilise the scheme. Participation in the scheme is optional. The scheme allows qualifying small enterprises to avail of the VAT registration thresholds in all Member States where they supply goods and services, thus avoiding the requirement to register for VAT in those Member States. However, there is no right to deduct input VAT incurred on the purchases of goods and services linked to supplies made under the scheme. Additional details are included in our earlier article which you can read here.