Ireland Tax Regime

Ireland's corporation tax centres on a 12.5% rate on active trading income and a 25% rate on passive income, administered by the Revenue Commissioners. Large groups within scope of the OECD Pillar Two rules face a 15% effective minimum through a domestic top-up tax. Residents are taxed on worldwide income.

A company is resident if incorporated in Ireland (since 2015) or managed and controlled there; the openness of the regime, the treaty network and the incentives have made Ireland a leading multinational holding and IP location.

1.1 Sources of law and treaties

The Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 is the principal statute, supplemented by Revenue guidance and EU law — Ireland has transposed the ATAD measures, the Pillar Two rules, and the parent-subsidiary and interest-royalty directives — with a broad treaty network overlaid by the multilateral instrument.

Headline statutory corporate income tax rate for a resident company. Where sub-national (state, provincial, cantonal or municipal) corporate taxes apply, the combined rate reported by the OECD is shown. Projected 2026–2028 rates carry the current rate forward unless a change is already enacted or officially scheduled. As-of 2026.

Top marginal statutory personal income tax rate on employment income for a resident individual. Where sub-national (state, provincial, cantonal or municipal) income taxes are a standard part of the system, the combined top rate is shown. Projected 2026–2028 rates carry the current rate forward unless a change is already enacted or officially scheduled. As-of 2026.

2.1 Residence and scope

Residence follows incorporation or central management and control; resident companies are taxed on worldwide profits and non-residents on the profits of an Irish branch and on Irish-source income. Whether an activity constitutes a 'trade' — requiring genuine, substantively-staffed operations — determines access to the 12.5% rate.

Substance in Ireland is increasingly decisive for both the trading rate and treaty access.

2.2 Rates

The 12.5% trading rate is the cornerstone, with passive (non-trading) income at 25% and certain land-dealing, mineral-working and petroleum activities (‘excepted trades’) at 25%. In-scope large groups face the 15% Pillar Two minimum.

2.3 Dividends, integration and participation

Ireland offers a participation exemption for gains on qualifying subsidiary shares and, from 2025, a participation exemption for qualifying foreign dividends that simplifies repatriation. Combined with low or no withholding in many cases and the treaty network, this anchors Ireland's holding-company role.

Domestic inter-company dividends are generally outside the charge to further tax.

2.4 Income determination and cost recovery

Trading profits follow the accounts adjusted for tax. Capital allowances are available on plant and machinery and, importantly, on the acquisition of qualifying intangible assets used in a trade (section 291A), which has underpinned IP onshoring; the section 110 regime supports structured-finance and leasing vehicles.

2.5 Losses and groups

Trading losses may be offset against current and prior-year profits and carried forward against future trading income; group relief allows the surrender of current-year losses between 75% group members, and assets transfer within a group without immediate tax.

2.6 Incentives

A 35% R&D tax credit, partly payable in cash over instalments, supports research; the Knowledge Development Box gives a reduced effective rate on income from qualifying patented IP and software; and capital allowances for intangibles complete a strong innovation package.

2.7 Compliance

Companies self-assess, pay preliminary tax and file the CT1 within roughly nine months of the period end, with surcharges for late filing.

3.1 Residence and rates

Residence depends on day-count tests, with ordinary residence and domicile also relevant. Income tax is charged at 20% and 40%, but the Universal Social Charge (USC) and PRSI push marginal rates above 50% on relatively modest incomes.

3.2 Types of income

Employment income is taxed through PAYE; trading, professional, rental and investment income through self-assessment. Deposit interest is subject to DIRT, and many funds and life policies are taxed under a separate gross-roll-up exit-tax regime rather than as ordinary income.

3.3 Deductions, reliefs and tax-favoured saving

Pension contributions attract relief at the marginal rate within age-related limits and an overall cap, making pensions the principal tax-advantaged vehicle. The Employment Investment Incentive (EII) gives income-tax relief for investing in qualifying SMEs, and various personal tax credits reduce liability.

3.4 Capital gains

Capital gains tax is 33%. Revised entrepreneur relief reduces the rate to 10% on qualifying business gains up to a lifetime limit, and retirement relief assists older owners disposing of a business; the principal private residence is generally exempt.

3.5 Wealth, estate and other personal taxes

There is no annual wealth tax. Capital acquisitions tax applies at 33% on gifts and inheritances above lifetime group thresholds, with business and agricultural reliefs that can substantially reduce the charge on qualifying assets.

3.6 Compliance

Income tax operates on a self-assessment pay-and-file basis in the autumn, with preliminary tax paid during the year and returns filed through Revenue's online service (ROS).

4.1 Withholding and treaties

Dividend withholding tax is 25%, subject to wide domestic and treaty exemptions; interest and royalties are generally 20%, again often reduced or eliminated under treaties and EU directives, subject to beneficial-ownership and principal-purpose tests.

4.2 Anti-deferral (CFC) rules

Ireland's CFC rules (effective from 2019) can attribute the undistributed income of low-taxed foreign subsidiaries to an Irish controlling company where it arises from significant people functions in Ireland.

4.3 Transfer pricing

Transfer pricing follows the OECD guidelines and applies broadly to trading and certain non-trading arrangements, with master-file/local-file documentation and country-by-country reporting for large groups.

4.4 Interest limitation

The ATAD interest limitation rule caps net borrowing costs at 30% of tax-EBITDA, complementing longstanding rules on the deductibility and re-characterisation of interest, and anti-hybrid rules neutralise mismatches.

4.5 Exit and departure taxation

An ATAD-compliant exit tax charges unrealised gains when a company migrates its residence or transfers assets out of the Irish tax net, with an option to pay in instalments in qualifying cases.

5.1 Assessment and limitation

Income and corporation tax operate on self-assessment; Revenue may generally assess within four years absent fraud or neglect, with interest and penalties for default.

5.2 Anti-avoidance

A general anti-avoidance rule and a mandatory-disclosure regime apply, alongside specific anti-avoidance provisions targeting particular structures.

5.3 Disputes and rulings

Appeals are made to the independent Tax Appeals Commission, with onward appeal to the courts on points of law; Revenue opinions and the co-operative-compliance framework provide a degree of certainty.

Indirect, payroll and capital taxes complete the picture.

Other taxes

Principal annual filing and payment obligations. Dates are indicative and subject to extensions and remitter-category rules.

Indicative deadlines. As-of June 2026.