Chartered Accountants Ireland has outlined a series of concrete steps aimed at making the provision of childcare across the island of Ireland work for both providers and parents, which could leave working parents financially better off and free up vital working capacity in the economy. Our paper ‘Supporting Working Parents – The case for better childcare policy’ sets out the core economic arguments for improved childcare provision as well as shining a light on the experiences of working parents seeking childcare. 

Revenue is to host a number of additional webinars in February 2024, using Eventbrite, to give an overview of the Enhanced Reporting Requirements (ERR). The webinars also give employers and agents the opportunity to ask questions regarding the operation of ERR. Earlier this month Revenue issued notices to employers’ ROS inboxes advising them of these free online webinars.   Feedback on issues or problems you experience with the new ERR reporting regime can be emailed to the Institute and we will continue to engage with Revenue through the TALC forum. We will keep you up to date on developments in Tax News.  

The Department of Finance has published the responses it received to its public consultation on the introduction of a participation exemption to the Irish corporation tax system. In December 2023 the Institute, under the auspices of the CCAB-I, responded on the basis that it supports the introduction of a participation exemption for both foreign dividends and foreign branch profits. There were 17 submissions to the Department and the full list can be accessed at gov.ie.  

Revenue has updated the Tax and Duty Manual relating to the use of Revenue documentation to verify personal addresses for non-Revenue purposes. The manual provides information on updating personal name or address details in myAccount to appear on Revenue documentation regarding the Employment Detail Summary (EDS) and the Summary of Pay and Tax Details. 

Revenue has restructured the Tax and Duty Manual which provides guidance on the application of special provisions relating to uncertificated securities. Part 6 of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999, which currently comprise sections 75, 75A, and 78A to 78J, makes provision for electronic transfers of interests in securities (such as shares) to be chargeable to stamp duty. Stamp duty is to be charged by deeming the transfer order which effects the transfer of an interest in securities to be an executed instrument of conveyance or transfer of the securities concerned.   Additional guidance has been added regarding:  The circumstances in which a conveyance or transfer of securities is chargeable with stamp duty;  The accountable person in relation to a transfer order; and,  Clarification that where a transfer order effects the transfer of an interest in securities outside a relevant system, the obligation to retain records does not apply in relation to a Central Securities Depository (CSD). Revenue accepts that the obligation to retain records does not apply in respect of any transfer order which is excluded from the scope of section 78B by virtue of subsection (4) of that section SDCA 1999. 

Revenue has updated the Tax and Duty Manual which provides an overview of dealing with stamp duty issues and information on stamp duty charges and self-assessment. The updated manual provides additional information on the categories of stamp duty charges, including the application of stamp duty where a sale of stocks or marketable securities is effected by electronic means, such that no instrument of transfer is created. 

Revenue has updated the Tax and Duty Manual that sets out the basic principles of the self-assessment system for income tax and capital gains tax. The updated manual reflects the change introduced by Finance (No. 2) Act 2023 regarding the taxation of gains realised on unapproved share options. From 1 January 2024 tax arising on the exercise, assignment or release of rights to acquire shares or other assets shall be collected by the employer via payroll under the PAYE system.  The self-assessment regime continues to apply to gains arising on or before 31 December 2023, as does the obligation to register for Relevant Tax on Share Options (RTSO).  

In October 2023, HMRC announced that the 31 October 2023 deadline for the end of the VAT margin scheme for second hand vehicles moved from Great Britain (“GB”) to Northern Ireland (“NI”) prior to 1 May 2023 was being extended to 30 April 2024. This six-month extension followed extensive lobbying from Chartered Accountants Ireland in September and October 2023. We are now issuing a reminder that the extended deadline of 30 April 2024 is in just over two and half months.   This means that any vehicles moved from GB to NI prior to 1 May 2023 but sold after 30 April 2024 will require output VAT to be charged on the full selling price, and not on the margin. Businesses affected should check how such stock is selling – please contact us to discuss if this vehicle stock continues to be slow-moving. 

This week we remind agents to copy client VAT authorisations across to the Agent Services Account before 16 February 2024 and earlier this month, the Labour Party published details of their business tax plan should the party succeed in winning the next General Election. HMRC has also announced that research is taking place into the recent changes to VAT penalties that took effect from 1 January 2023.  Labour’s Business Partnership for Growth  The plans published by the Labour party earlier this month in this publication confirmed the following in the event that the party were to win the upcoming General Election:  Corporation tax would not be increased from the current main rate of 25 percent;   Full expensing, Research and Development tax relief, the Patent Box regime and the annual Investment Allowance would all remain unchanged;   In its first six months, a new Labour Government would publish a roadmap for business taxation; and  Greater use of rulings and clearances to provide certainty to businesses looking to invest in the UK would be trialled.  VAT penalty reform research  HMRC has announced that it is working with an independent research agency to research the views of VAT-registered businesses on the changes in the VAT penalty regime that apply to VAT return periods commencing on or after 1 January 2023.  Selected VAT-registered businesses are being contacted up to 25 March 2024 to invite them to take part in an interview. Note that a business may still be contacted even if it has not received a VAT penalty.

Revenue has published an updated Tax and Duty Manual regarding the Universal Social Charge (USC) Regulations 2018. The manual has been updated to reflect the changes made to the operational aspects relating to the collection and reporting of USC as a result of USC Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 700 of 2023).  The Regulations are updated:  To ensure that gains realised by the exercise/assignment/release of a right on or after 1 January 2024 and chargeable to income tax under section 128 TCA 1997 are treated as notional payments by the employer and the gain is calculated by reference to section 128(4) TCA 1997.  To recognise changes which limit the repayment and credit due for universal social charge to a 4 year period commencing from the end of the year of assessment in which the Income Tax month falls, to provide for refusal of a repayment to be notified in writing and a right of appeal by persons aggrieved by the application of the new measures and to provide that income tax assessing provisions in section 990 TCA 1997 apply to USC.  To provide that an employer may, in certain circumstances and where no payment of emolument is made during the last income tax month of the year, make a repayment of USC to an employee during the last income tax month of the year so that the employee can get the benefit of any unused rates and bands at the end of the year under the cumulative PAYE system. 

In this week’s EU exit corner, we bring you the latest guidance updates and publications relevant to EU exit. The most recent Trader Support Service Bulletin is also available and the UK Government has provided a range of resources which aim to provide support as a result of the UK implementing the first stage of its new import controls which commenced from 31 January 2024 (see below for details). On the Northern Ireland front, the return of the Northern Ireland Assembly has resulted in a new committee being formed, the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee.   Resources to assist with new UK import controls  The UK Government has provided a range of resources which aim to provide support, help, and guidance as a result of the UK implementing the first stage of its new import controls which commenced from 31 January 2024 as part of the first phase of its Border Target Operating Model (“BTOM”). These are as follows:  Details of key contacts which can be used for urgent border issues relating to health certification and pre-notification;  Information on the UK Government’s approach to compliance and enforcement in respect of the BTOM;  An email from HMRC providing guidance on the customs requirements to move goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain through Ireland; and  The latest Cabinet Office Borders Bulletin which contains important Border Target BTOM guidance for businesses.  Miscellaneous updated guidance etc.   Recently updated guidance, and publications relevant to EU exit are set out below:-  Software developers providing customs declaration software;  Known error workarounds for the Customs Declaration Service (CDS);  Importing SPS controlled goods that interact with ALVS;  How to apply for a repayment of import duty and VAT if you've overpaid (C285);  Designated export place (DEP) 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;  Bringing commercial goods into Great Britain in your baggage;  Taking commercial goods out of Great Britain in your baggage;  Notices made under the Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018; and  Notices made under the Customs (Export) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. 

The Department of Finance has published the Fiscal Monitor January 2024. Exchequer figures for January 2024 show tax revenues in January were €7.8 billion, nearly 5 percent higher than last year. Contributing to this were strong VAT receipts of €3.8 billion, which include spending over the Christmas period, and were 4 percent more than January 2023. Income tax receipts remain steady, up 2.9 percent on an annual basis, with €2.9 billion collected. January is not a significant month for corporation tax, and this is reflected in the numbers, with €57 million collected, up €7 million on the same period last year. Capital gains tax receipts of €96 million were down €16 million on last year while the take from capital acquisitions tax was broadly in line with 2023 with €19 million collected.  Commenting on the figures, the Minister for Finance Michael McGrath said:  “Today’s figures show that aggregate tax receipts continued to display steady growth at the start of the year, with tax revenues increasing by almost 5% compared to January of last year. This is a solid start to the year, and is a clear and welcome demonstration of the continuing resilience of our economy, notwithstanding the undoubted headwinds in the global economy. These figures come on the heels of data published by the CSO last week, which show a welcome moderation in the rate of inflation and that unemployment remains low at just 4.5 per cent.  It is essential that we remain vigilant to the risks to our public finances: the headline tax revenue figures for 2024 will, as has been the case in recent years, be heavily reliant on volatile corporation tax revenues, which showed considerable volatility last year. The first significant month for corporation tax revenue is expected to be March. I and my officials will be closely monitoring trends in tax receipts as they develop over the coming months.  A priority for me in the months ahead is to establish the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. These funds will be essential to protecting the sustainability of the Exchequer over the years ahead and work is continuing on the legislation that will underpin them.”