TaxSource Total

Here you can access summary of the key current tax developments in Ireland, the UK and internationally as reported by Chartered Accountants Ireland

The report of key tax developments are displayed per year, per month, by Ireland, the UK or International and by report title

COVID-19 BIK measures reinstated

Having regard to the current public health restrictions, Revenue reconsidered the withdrawal of certain BIK measures in place due to the impact of COVID-19. Accordingly, a number of BIK concessionary measures have been reinstated in the short-term.

Following on from the withdrawal of a number of BIK and employment-related COVID-19 concessions at the end of 2020, Revenue confirmed that the below list of short-term BIK concessionary measures are reinstated in the short-term:

  • BIK on provision of COVID-19 testing;
  • BIK on facilitation of flu vaccination;
  • BIK on employer provided vehicles;
  • Use of company cars by employees in the motor industry;
  • Payment of taxi fares by an employer;
  • Small benefit exemption; and
  • BIK on employer-provided accommodation.

Guidance on these short-term BIK concessionary measures is available on the Revenue website.

Further information is available through Revenue eBrief No. 004/21. Revenue stated that other concessionary measures referred to in eBrief 232/20 will not be extended into 2021. These include the below list, which ceased to apply on 31 December 2020.

  • Special Assignee Relief Programme (SARP);
  • PAYE dispensation applications;
  • Operation of PAYE for foreign employments and multi-State workers;
  • PAYE exclusion order – Irish contract of employment; and
  • Scholarship exemption.

The 31 March 2021 filing deadline for Restricted Stock Unit cases where real-time foreign tax credits were provided through payroll is suspended. The return date for such employees reverts to the standard filing date i.e. 31 October 2021.

The filing deadline for all 2020 share scheme returns is 31 March 2021.

Concessionary measures for trans-border workers relief will continue to apply for the tax year 2021 where:

  • an employee is required to work from home in the State due to COVID-19; and
  • provided all other conditions of the relief are met.

The concessionary measures for the exemption in respect of retraining costs as part of a redundancy package will cease to apply for redundancies after 1 May 2021.