Stamp duty

Increase from 2% on commercial property to 6% with effect from midnight 10 October 2017. 

A stamp duty refund scheme is to be introduced for commercial land purchased for the development of housing, subject to conditions to include the development occurring within 30 months of the purchase of the land.

Farming Measures

Stamp duty

Stamp duty rate of 1% continues on inter-family farm transfers for a further three years.

Young trained farmers

Continuation of stamp duty exemption for young trained farmers on agricultural land transactions.

Solar farms qualifying for CAT and CGT relief

Agricultural land placed under solar infrastructure will continue to be classified as agricultural land. In order for CAT agricultural relief and CGT retirement relief to apply, no more than 50% of the land holding can be used for solar infrastructure.

Sugar tax

In line with an extensive public consultation process undertaken by the Government, two rates of sugar tax will be introduced in Ireland with effect from 1 April 2018, subject to State Aid approval. The rates are 30 cent per litre on drinks with in excess of eight grams of sugar per 100 millilitres and 20 cent per litre on drinks with between five and eight grams of sugar per 100 millilitres. Drinks with less than five grams of sugar attract no sugar tax.

Vacant site levy

Increase from the current 3% levy in the first year to 7% in second and subsequent years to encourage land owners to develop vacant sites. An owner of a property on a vacant site register who does not develop their land in 2018 will be liable to the 3% levy in 2019 and a further 7% levy in 2020 and each year thereafter until the land is developed.