Ireland: Ireland reduces the rate of stamp duty on the acquisition of business assets

International Tax Review is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Garden, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Ireland: Ireland reduces the rate of stamp duty on the acquisition of business assets

Ireland recently enacted a reduction to the rate of stamp duty on the acquisition of business assets subject to stamp duty.

This includes goodwill, the benefit of contracts and commercial real estate. The stamp duty rate has been reduced considerably from a top rate of 6% to a lower flat rate of 2%. This new rate of 2% will now apply to transfers executed on or after December 7 2011. While the focus of this reduction in stamp duty has mainly related to a hoped for stimulus for the Irish real estate market, the reduction will also have an important and positive impact on the structuring of Irish corporate acquisition (M&A) transactions, as asset sales in Ireland will now be significantly more attractive in stamp duty terms than previously. The stamp duty costs of an asset purchase at the new reduced rate of 2% of the consideration for chargeable assets (for example, goodwill) can now compare more favourably to the 1% stamp duty on a share purchase. This is particularly the case as not all business assets purchased as part of an asset purchase may be chargeable assets (subject to the 2% charge) but the entire purchase price for a share purchase will be subject to the 1% charge. The stamp duty reduction is therefore a positive measure which gives more commercial flexibility in structuring the acquisition of Irish businesses.

Gerry Thornton (gerry.thornton@mop.ie) and Caroline Austin (caroline.austin@mop.ie)

Matheson Ormsby Prentice

Tel: +353 1 232 2000

Website: www.mop.ie

more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

AI-powered tax agents are likely to be the next big development in tax technology, says Russell Gammon of Tax Systems
FTI Consulting’s EMEA head of employment tax and reward tells ITR about celebrating diversity in the profession, his love of musicals, and what makes tax cool
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump have agreed that the countries will look to conclude a deal by July 21, 2025
The firm’s lack of transparency regarding its tax leaks scandal should see the ban extended beyond June 30, senators Deborah O’Neill and Barbara Pocock tell ITR
Despite posing significant administrative hurdles, digital services taxes remain ‘the best way forward’ for emerging economies, says Neil Kelley, COO of Ascoria
A ‘joint understanding’ among G7 countries that ‘defends American interests’ is set to be announced, Scott Bessent claimed
The ‘big four’ firm’s inaugural annual report unveiled a sharp drop in profits for 2024; in other news, Baker McKenzie and Perkins Coie expanded their US tax benches
Representatives from the two countries focused on TP as they met this week to evaluate progress under a previously signed agreement – it is understood
The UK accountancy firm’s transfer pricing lead tells ITR about his expat lifestyle, taking risks, and what makes tax cool
Dolphin Drilling intends to discuss the final liability amount and manner of settlement with HM Revenue and Customs
Gift this article