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Author: David

Contracts of employment

WHY DO I, AS AN EMPLOYER,

NEED TO PROVIDE A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT?

The contract of employment in Irish employment legislation is probably one of the most valuable documents available to the employer and the employee alike.

While there is no legal obligation on an employer to provide a contract of employment, there is an obligation on the employer to give an employee a written statement of certain terms of employment within 2 months of starting work.

A well written contract of employment will cover all aspects of the employment relationship and in doing so, will help eliminate the friction which can occur when problems are not dealt with.

Outside of the required document outlining the terms of employment, it is recommended to include the following items in an employment contract:

  • a probationary period;
  • retirement;
  • provision for lay-off and short time;
  • a flexibility clause;
  • confidentiality clause;
  • health and safety;
  • disciplinary and grievance clauses;
  • changes to conditions of employment.

PAY AND FILE SUMMARY

The following is a summary of upcoming pay and file dates:

INCOME TAX

31 October 2023

Filing date of 2022 return of income (self-assessed individuals)

 31 October 2023

Pay preliminary income tax for 2023 (self-assessed individuals)

16 November 2023

On-Line pay and file date for 2022 return of income

CAPITAL GAINS TAX

15 December 2023

Payment of Capital Gains Tax for  the disposal of assets made from 01 January 2023 to 30 November 2023

31 January 2023

Payment of Capital Gains Tax for the disposal of assets made  from 01 December 2023 to 31 December 2023

CORPORATION TAX

23 December 2023

Filing date for Corporation Tax returns for accounting periods ending in March 2023

23 December 2023

Balancing payment of Corporation Tax for Accounting periods ending in March 2023

The following is a summary of upcoming pay and file dates:

INCOME TAX

Filing date of 2022 return of income                         31 October 2023

(self-assessed individuals)

Pay preliminary income tax for 2023                         31 October 2023

(self-assessed individuals)

On-Line pay and file date for 2022                            16 November 2023

return of income

CAPITAL GAINS TAX

Payment of Capital Gains Tax for

the disposal of assets made from                               15 December 2023

01 January 2023 to 30 November 2023

Payment of Capital Gains Tax for the disposal of assets made from                                       31 January 2023

01 December 2023 to 31 December 2023

CORPORATION TAX

Filing date for Corporation Tax

returns for accounting periods                                     23 December 2023

ending in March 2023

Balancing payment of Corporation

Tax for Accounting periods ending                            23 December 2023

in March 2023

EMPLOYMENT INVESTMENT INCENTIVE (EII)

EII is a tax relief which encourages individuals to provide equity based finance to trading companies by allowing individuals to obtain Income Tax relief on investments for shares in certain qualifying companies. Since October 2019 the tax relief of up to 40% of the investment made is available in full in the year of investment.

An individual who has made a qualifying investment on or after 1 January 2020 can claim relief on investments up to a maximum of €250,000 per year of assessment. Please note that shares must be retained for at least 4 years. Alternatively, an individual who has made a qualifying investment on or after 1 January 2020 can claim relief on investments up to a maximum of €500,000 per year of assessment subject to the following:

• An investor must ‘elect’ to retain those shares for a period of 7 years in order to claim the maximum relief. The election must be made at the time of the share issue.

• An investor cannot then ‘opt out’ of the election at a later date before the 7 years expired without suffering a clawback of the total relief initially claimed.

Where an investor invests an amount greater than the maximum amount allowed in a year, the excess over the maximum amount can be carried forward against future Income Tax liabilities. A Statement of Qualification (SOQ) must be issued by the qualifying company within 4 months after the end of the year in which shares are issued.

Finance Act 2021 extended this relief by a further 3 years to 31 December 2024.

Budget 2023

The Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe T.D. and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath T.D. delivered the 2023 Budget.

For more detail please read our Budget Newsletter by downloading here.
 
If you have any queries on the Budget or any other financial matters do not hesitate to contact us.

Budget 2022

The Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe T.D. and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath T.D. delivered the 2022 Budget against the backdrop of increases in the cost of living, changes in international tax reform and the need to reduce overall reliance on borrowings.

The key changes announced in Budget 2022 are:

  • Increases to personal tax credits, bands and relief for remote working 
  • Extension of EWSS and enhancement of EIIS
  • A new 3 percent zoned land tax
  • A new digital gaming sector tax credit 
  • Expansion of the tax debt warehousing scheme to allow individuals who have a “material interest” in their employer company to participate in the scheme.

For more detail please read our Budget Newsletter by downloading here.
 
If you have any queries on the Budget or any other financial matters do not hesitate to contact us.

Budget 2021

We are pleased to bring you our summary of the tax measures set out in Budget 2021.

The Government framed Budget 2021 in the midst of immense economic challenges presented by COVID-19 and Brexit. Irish businesses face extraordinary headwinds, and the Budget both reaffirms existing measures and introduces new measures to assist businesses through these extraordinary times. Ministers Donohoe & McGrath recognised that SMEs are the backbone of the Irish economy and it is hoped that future policy initiatives of this Government will focus on and positively address the taxation costs faced by SMEs.

Should you have any taxation or business questions, our team would be happy to share their insights with you.

Download our Budget 2021 newsletter in PDF format.

COVID-19 Aids, Grants and Funds

Due to the latest developments we encourage you to conduct a risk assessment and put business continuity plans in place due to Coronavirus (Covid-19). See below some of the grants, aids, funds and benefits available to your business and employees. We will update you with anything that can be of help over the next couple of days

COVID-19 Aids, Grants and Funds

Business supports
he Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation announced a number of supports for businesses facing challenges being presented by the current Covid-19 situation. The Credit Guarantee Scheme is in place and available now to SME’s subject to the relevant terms and conditions. Separately the SBCI is currently working to finalise the terms and conditions of the SBCI COVID19 Working Capital Scheme and the eligibility application process for this. The SBCI website will be updated as soon as these are finalised. In the interim if you wish to be kept informed on developments please email the SBCI at info@sbci.gov.ie
 
Enterprise Ireland
Act On Initiative – The initiative helps companies decide on specific actions over a short period to address some of the risks and opportunities from Covid-19. This initiative for Enterprise Ireland clients is delivered at no cost to the company. https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/About-Us/Services/Covid-19/Supports/
 
Business Continuity Planning
This user-friendly checklist identifies a range of issues for enterprise to consider in responding to a COVID-19 outbreak. https://dbei.gov.ie/en/Publications/Business-Continuity-Planning-A-checklist-of-Preparatory-Actions-in-Responding-to-the-COVID-19-Outbreak.html


The following supports are available for firms experiencing trading difficulties and short-term shocks
The Department of Employment Affairs & Social Protection and the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation will provide a joint First Responder support service through the Intreo Offices and development agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland in each region to provide tailored supports for impacted firms, with objective of avoiding mass lay-offs and buying time for firms to work through the short-term disruptions.

Firms that need to reduce hours or days worked can avail of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Short Term Work Support by contacting their local Intreo Office, see https://www.gov.ie/en/service/c20e1b-short-time-work-support/
Local Enterprise Offices will be providing vouchers from €2,500 up to €10,000 (with 50:50 match funding) to support business continuity preparedness, innovation and productivity.
 
SBCI Working Capital Scheme
To be eligible for the SBCI COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme, businesses must satisfy one of the COVID-19 criteria and one of the innovation criteria set out for the scheme. There is a broad suite of innovation criteria and this offers a wide range of opportunity for businesses to engage in the scheme. Guidelines will be provided on the SBCI website to help businesses determine if they are eligible for the scheme. https://sbci.gov.ie/schemes/sme-credit-guarantee-scheme-cgs
 
 
COVID-19 Benefits for Employees

Illness Benefit for COVID-19 absences:
When a worker is told to self-isolate by a doctor or has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) by a doctor, they can apply for an enhanced Illness Benefit payment of €305 per week.

Do not visit your GP, contact them by telephone.

To receive the enhanced payment, you must be self-isolating on the instruction of a doctor or other medical professional and/or diagnosed. The Illness benefit payment will be paid for a maximum of 2 weeks where a person is self-isolating but will be paid for the duration of a person’s absence from work if they have been diagnosed.

How to Apply

Step 1 – If you are an employee or self-employed and feel you may be suffering from Covid-19 or may need to self-isolate; you should contact your doctor by telephone.
The doctor will then complete a medical certificate on your behalf and send this directly to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
To receive a payment, you will need to provide your doctor with your Name, PPSN and DoB.

Step 2 – Complete an application form for Illness Benefit (Form IB 1).
There are three ways that you can make an application:
You can call 1890 800 024 or 01 2481398 between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday to get an application form by post
Organise someone to pick up a form at your doctor’s surgery or at your local Intreo Centre
An online application process will be available by the end of March  
It is important to complete part 5 of the Illness Benefit form as this contains how you would like to be paid.

You don’t have to fill in part 7 of the form.

Send your application form by Freepost to:
PO Box 1650, Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Dublin 1    

Budget 2019

The following headline items arise in Budget 2109. Download our Budget 2019 newsletter in PDF format for full analysis.

 

• Corporation Tax Rate remains at 12.5%
• A new Anti-Avoidance Directive (ATAD) compliant Exit Tax regime is to come into effect from midnight tonight.
• The 9% VAT Rate will be increased to 13.5% for the Hospitality sector from 01 January 2019
• There will be an increase in the Minimum Wage to €9.80 from 01 January 2019
• The Minister announced changes to both the rates and bands for Universal Social Charge
• Increase in the Standard Rate Income Tax bands of €750
• The Earned Income Tax Credit will increase to €1,350
• The Training Levy Fund will increase by 0.1% which will increase the employers PRSI rate
• An increase in the Group A Exempt Threshold for Capital Acquisition Tax of €10,000 was also announced

Five Things we Learned this International Women’s Day

Five Things we Learned this International Women’s Day

Here at Noone Casey, we are passionate about supporting Women in Business and we are delighted to support Roseann Heavey, one of our partners, as she takes on the role of the 2018 National President of Network Ireland.
Network Ireland is a progressive, dynamic organisation supporting the professional and personal development of women. Our membership is made up of a very diverse group of women, from budding entrepreneurs, SME owners, professionals and leaders in indigeno.
As part of her role as National President, Roseann had the task of running an International Women’s Day Event for 250 of Ireland’s leading women in business. The sold-out event was held in the Intercontinental Hotel in Dublin on March 8th and proved a huge success.
We thought we would share with you some lessons, ideas and statistics we took from the day and provide you with some food for thought, in this first blog of our Women in Business Blog Series.

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Three Things ALL Professional Contractors Should Do After Their CV is Written

The next article in our series in helping Professional Contractors is all about the CV. (Read our other article here).

Many of our clients who are professional contractors talk to us about all aspects of their business. One gap that we noticed is that many are unsure of what to do once their CV is completed. Some have been in contracts for a long period of time and notice there is a change in how to approach new contracting roles.

With the “perfect” CV at hand, you can sell your capabilities and achievements and begin to seek new opportunities in the jobs market. The application process is becoming increasingly competitive and simply sending in your CV, and sitting back, waiting for magic to happen, is not good enough.

We have come up with three tips that can make the difference in landing you the perfect role.

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Did You Know: Medical Expense Claim

Did You Know: Medical Expense Claim
Did You Know: Medical Expense Claim

Are you a sufferer of coeliac disease? If so, it is possible to include the costs of dietary requirements in your medical expenses claim once you retain the receipts. It is important to note that you must have proof in the form of a doctor’s letter. Once obtained it could get you a tax relief of 20% on specialised foods.

TOP 5 CONTRACT EMPLOYMENT MYTHS – DEBUNKED!

Professional contracting can seem like a daunting and confusing way of working to some but traditional 9 to 5 work, is slowly becoming a thing of the past, with today’s workforce being made up, more and more of professional contractors. In this blog, we debunk 5 contract employment myths and demystify common misconceptions surrounding the world on professional contractors.

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