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News Taxation

  Taxation

Updates to EWSS scheme

The Revenue Commissioners recently issued new guidelines in relation to the eligibility of EWSS from 1 July 2021. The main change announced by Revenue was extending the turnover reference checks to 12 months rather than a 6 month period. This means that businesses whose trade was severely impacted due to government restrictions in the first half of 2021 can trade at higher levels for the second half of 2021 and still avail of the scheme, subject to meeting the scheme conditions which were already in place.  This adjustment means that a business would be looking at their turnover for the calendar year 2021 in full rather than on a 6 monthly basis. Businesses will need to review their actual monthly turnover for January to June 2021 and projected turnover for the months July to December 2021. The business is expected to experience a 30% reduction in turnover or customer orders due to the pandemic in the period from 1 January to 31 December 2021 compared to 2019 for pay dates on or between 1 July and 31 December 2021.  Therefore, in order to avail of the EWSS, you will need to provide the following;
  1. Actual monthly turnover details for January to December 2019, 
  2. Actual monthly turnover details for Jan to June 2021 and 
  3. Monthly projections for July to December 2021.
In addition to this, you will be required to complete an online Employer Eligibility Review Form (ERF) through ROS on a monthly basis, by the 15th of the following month. The initial ERF for the June period which will be used to assess eligibility for pay dates from 1 July needs to be completed and submitted online between 21 and 30 July 2021. Through ROS, you will need to provide details of actual monthly vat exclusive turnover or customer order values for 2019, together with the same detail for the first six months of 2021. They will also need to provide details of monthly projections for the remainder of 2021. On a rolling basis the projections can be updated monthly for the actual turnover figures and a business will be obliged to stop claiming the EWSS at any point where the expected 2021 turnover will exceed 70% of 2019’s turnover.  Revenue have advised, failure to submit the EWSS Eligibility Review Form that confirms the requisite reduction in turnover of 30% and related declaration will result in suspension of payment of your EWSS claims. Our tax team are available to discuss EWSS eligibility and applications at any stage, please use the link for contact details:  https://www.robertsnathan.com/member/brendan-murphy/
July 21, 2021
  Business

How To Minimise Your Tax Liability As A Business Owner

We know that tax is a significant variable facing business owners, which is why we invest heavily in experienced, highly qualified tax advisors. Our team works with a wide variety of clients in businesses across various industry sectors to meet tax compliance obligations and provide beneficial tax strategies to all types of business owners. In today's blog, we wanted to look at some simple methods for lowering your tax liability as a business owner.  Taxes, like any other expense, can be controlled and lowered with our proper planning and guidance. Cashflow and money will always play a significant part in the potential success for any business so ensuring proper compliance and setup will be crucial for you. The Revenue Commissioners will always get their percentage from your personal and company wealth, but, here are some methods to help you minimise your business's tax obligations and reduce your tax liability as a business owner.

Methods to reduce tax liabilities as a business owner

  • Maintain systematic record 
While this may seem self-evident, many companies lose out on valid tax deductions or face unjustified add-backs or penalties as their accounting records are insufficient to identify and verify all of the expenditures they are allowed to claim.
  • Tax credit
A tax credit is an instrument that lowers your tax liabilities by decreasing the amount of tax you pay over a financial year. Some of these are provided automatically, while others must be claimed. Any credits that aren't claimed can't be refunded or carried over to the next tax year. By contacting us or by doing some research on your own, you can get to know what tax-deductible expenditures are suitable for your business.
  • Finance capital expenses for tax exemptions
If you buy equipment with cash or a loan, you may receive a 12.5% tax reduction across six and a half years. However, it may be more cost-effective to purchase equipment on a lease and claim tax benefits throughout the lease, usually three years.
  • Engage your spouse or any other family member
Employing spouses or other family members can also be tax beneficial if you can establish and explain their role in the business.
  • Change your company's accounting reference date
In some instances, altering your company's accounting reference date can be beneficial if your business is seasonal or if your profit measures are rising or falling.
  • Preliminary tax
Choose to pay your preliminary tax based on current year projections if your income is expected to decrease.
  • Travel and subsistence 
Revenue allows for the tax-free payment of mileage and subsistence as long as the proper paperwork is held.
  • Consider turning into a Limited Company
There are other factors to consider when starting a business, but if you're making more money than you need to cover your costs, it may be worth setting up a company to benefit from further tax reductions.
  • Generate management accounts before the end of the year 
Calculate your possible tax liability before the end of the year to allow yourself enough time to prepare and manage your tax payment.   The methods mentioned above will given you an idea of how you can minimise your tax liability as a business owner. However, as is often the case with financial planning, we look at every business owner individually and set out a plan that is customised and fitted for them. For expert assistance in maintaining your financial records, digital accounting, beneficial tax strategies, auditing, and more intended to profit your business most productively, please reach out to me on shane.meade@robertsnathan.com or feel free to give me a call on +353 (021) 494 3977.
July 14, 2021
  Uncategorized

RN Podcast: 2021 – What is in store for the Irish tax landscape in the year ahead

Vivian Nathan, Managing Partner, welcomes Brendan Murphy, Tax Partner, to Roberts Nathan. Brendan joined the firm at the beginning of 2021 to continue the firms expansion and our commitment to providing our clients with dedicated specialist within specific sectors. On this podcast, Viv and Brendan discuss the opportunities Brendan sees for businesses from a tax perspective in the year ahead and what will be the key areas of focus for tax advisors. They also look at the impact to date of Brexit and how this will continue to effect trading between Ireland and the UK. Finally they will look at the cost Covid-19 is having on the Irish economy and what the future Irish tax landscape may look like.
We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and if you have any questions regarding any of the points raised please let us know.
 
April 19, 2021
  Legislation

Cash flow benefit for companies importing stock from outside the EU (including UK/EU trade).

As a result of Brexit and the UK becoming a third country, postponed accounting for VAT can now be applied to all non-EU imports of goods for resale since 1 January 2021.  This treatment is now available to all VAT registered traders and applies to imports from all non-EU countries and not just the UK. Trading businesses who historically have had to pay VAT at point of entry for stock arriving from outside the EU can now save the cash flow of the VAT that would have applied on the landing of this stock (23%). This scheme benefits all traders in that:
  • provides for postponed accounting for VAT on imports from non-EU countries
  • enables you to account for import VAT on your VAT return
  • allows you to reclaim VAT at the same time as it is declared in a return. This is subject to normal rules on deductibility.
The Revenue Commissioners may exclude traders who do not fulfil certain conditions and requirements from using this scheme which will include compliance with tax and customs law. A business may also be required to satisfy Revenue of the viability of their business operations and their capacity to pay their VAT liabilities. To use postponed accounting, an importer should enter a code on the import declaration. This code will allow the VAT on import liability to be accounted for by the importer in their VAT Return. The VAT Return will contain new boxes (fields) to capture this information. Talk to us on your requirements in this area and how we can assist your business. We have advised a number of clients who are now saving on their working capital funding requirements and in particular on trade in goods between UK and Ireland.
April 13, 2021
  Uncategorized

UK Businesses – Do you have the correct Irish VAT number?

Check your VAT number VIES VAT number validation
No, invalid VAT number for cross border transactions within the EU
Since June 2019, companies registering for VAT have had to specify whether they wish for a “domestic only” or “intra-EU” VAT registration. The domestic only registration has helped speed up registration process for business seeking to register for VAT however, we have seen a number of instances where businesses are unaware of the need to include an intra-EU registration within their application. In particular we have noted many UK businesses applying for Irish VAT numbers on the basis of being a non-resident company with operations in Ireland and obtaining an IE VAT reg.  If the company is importing goods into Ireland for domestic only supply, then the domestic VAT registration is sufficient and they are charged Irish VAT at the point of importation of the goods into the EU.  Thus the domestic VAT registration applies only if the company is importing goods into Ireland, storing and distributing them here and not further distributing outside of Ireland. However if your company is looking to use Ireland as a new trading base in dealing with EU customers this will not be an effective VAT number for EU wide trading. So check your VAT number.  If you get the above message on the VIES system then it is only a domestic VAT registration. This will cause issues if you are bringing goods into Ireland and then intending to export them to another EU country as you will need to apply for an intra-EU VAT number.  It will be the exact same number but will need to be validated as otherwise your customers will get the above notice when the VAT number is checked for EU trading.  This causes an issue for your EU customers as you will not have issued a valid VAT invoice. We have helped a number of clients with this by amending their VAT registration and getting the option for intra-EU VAT registration. This requires additional information for Revenue which we can assist with. If you would like to explore further options around your business, please contact Brendan Murphy who would be very pleased to assist you. Brendan Murphy: brendan.murphy@robertsnathan.com
March 31, 2021
  Taxation

Revenue Update – Debt warehousing and Covid-19 supports

Last week Revenue began to write to taxpayers who are availing of debt warehousing and other Covid-19 supports. In relation to debt warehousing, Revenue are reiterating the need for all returns to be filed on time, even where warehousing is being availed of on payment. Any taxpayer availing of debt warehousing but does not have all tax filings up to date will be reminded to do so immediately or lose their entitlement to avail of the Debt Warehousing Scheme. Any returns outstanding will be brought to the taxpayers attention in the Revenue latest correspondence. For taxpayers availing of both Debt Warehousing and either the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme or the Covid-19 Restrictions Support Scheme, they will be advised to bring any outstanding returns up to date within 21 days or their tax clearance will be rescinded and they will no longer be eligible for any of the support schemes. Revenue have also began a second stage of TWSS reconciliation, seeing employers who have availed of the scheme receiving a detailed reconciliation through ROS. Employers have until the end of June 2021 to review the information contained in the reconciliation by Revenue and accept, appeal or make any required adjustments to their claim by this date. It is also worth noting for taxpayers who are not availing of debt warehousing but do have tax liabilities outstanding that Revenue will seek to enforce debt collection of outstanding liabilities over the coming weeks as highlighted in a press release earlier this month. Finally, late filing surcharges for corporation tax returns had been suspended from March 2020, however Revenue have now confirmed that for corporation tax returns due between 23 March 2020 and 23 June 2021 (i.e. accounting periods ended between 30 June 2019 and 30 September 2020), will need to be filed by 30 June 2021. Corporation tax returns (including iXBRL financial statements if required) will be required to be filed on time from this period on to avoid late surcharges. If you would like to explore further options around your business, please contact Brendan Murphy who would be very pleased to assist you. Brendan Murphy: brendan.murphy@robertsnathan.com
March 30, 2021
  Brexit

UK Budget

On Wednesday Rishi Sunak announced the UK budget and Irish interest was immediately drawn to the confirmation that the Corporation Tax rate would increase from 19% to 25% from April 2023 for companies with profits of at least £250k.  This can only be seen as a positive for Ireland where our continued commitment to the 12.5% Corporation Tax rate would make it an ideal location from UK businesses looking to relocate operations to the EU. Ireland’s Corporation Tax code is built on transparency and substance and we have advised many businesses on the requirements to establishing in Ireland from a direct tax, indirect tax and commercial perspective.
March 5, 2021
  Business

CRSS and the Construction Industry

The two most important schemes available to employers and businesses across the country at this time are the CRSS (Covid Restrictions Support Scheme) and EWSS (Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme). Under the current CRSS guidelines, the construction industry is not permitted to make a claim under CRSS as they do not satisfy the guidelines whereby they operate from a fixed premises that is required to prohibit or considerably restrict customers from accessing their premises. They may still be eligible to claim the EWSS wage subsidy. To learn more about this contact Brendan Murphy, Tax Partner at Roberts Nathan brendan.murphy@robertsnathan.com or call (01) 876 4550.
January 28, 2021
  Business in Ireland

RN Podcast: 2020 – The Year that was, and 2021 potential for business growth

As we close out on 2020, we have produced a podcast where we take a look at the year that was, and provide our view on what businesses might expect in 2021. Aidan Scollard, Brendan Kean and Derek Dervan, partners with Roberts Nathan discuss three main areas likely to impact Irish businesses as well as some tips when planning for 2021:
1. The implications of the Covid vaccine on Irish businesses. Cashflow and succession planning have become very important for business owners, however some good has come from Covid in terms of the opportunities it has created for doing business in a new way. It may also bring about potential M&A and real estate activity, and possible increased consumer spending in the year ahead.
2. Brexit and planning around UK businesses setting up operations in Ireland.
3. Budget 2021 Capital Acquisition and Gains taxes, Entrepreneurial Relief, Pensions and Retirement Relief.
Roberts Nathan podcast discussing 2020 the year that was, and why 2021 has potential for business growth for Irish SME businesses
We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and if you have any questions regarding any of the points raised please let us know.
 
December 17, 2020
  Taxation

Budget 2021 Highlights

On Tuesday 13th October, Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe announced an unprecedented 2021 Budget package investing €17.75 billion in the economy. The Budget was focused on investment and helping businesses impacted by Covid-19. We have prepared a brief summary of the 2021 Budget highlighting some of the key changes outlined by the Minister. Click on the link below to read. Budget 2021 Highlights
October 16, 2020