Revenue Revises Proposals For Mandatory E-Filing

Friday, January 28, 2011

The Irish Revenue has revised the scope and timing of the next phase of the mandatory e-filing/payment project in the light of feedback received from a recent consultation exercise.

To ensure a smooth transition towards the next phases of mandatory e-filing and payment, the Revenue has refined the categories of cases and deadline dates set out in the original consultation document as follows:

• Returns /payments due on or after June 1, 2011 must be made on line by the following categories of persons/businesses, where they are not already the subject of such a requirement:
  • All companies;
  • All trusts;
  • All partnerships;
  • Individuals filing stamp duty returns as respects instruments executed on or after June 1, 2011;
  • Individuals or companies filing a return of payments to third parties [Form 46G];
  • Individuals subject to the high earners restriction;
  • Individuals benefiting from or acquiring Foreign Life Policies, Offshore Funds or other Offshore products;
  • Individuals claiming a range of property based incentives (Residential Property and Industrial Buildings Allowances).
• Returns /payments due on or after October 1, 2011, must be made online by the following categories of persons/businesses where they are not already the subject of such a requirement:
  • Employers with more than 10 employees.

The Revenue has announced that it will now commence a process of writing to all those encompassed by phase 3 of the mandatory e-filing and payment requirement [including the relevant tax agent] advising them of their obligation that will apply from June 1, 2011, or October 1, 2011, and of the steps they need to take to facilitate and ensure compliance from the appropriate date.

The precise timing and scope of phases 4 and 5 will be the subject of a separate communication by Revenue in the coming months.