merrion street

If you own, or will own, a share in the company you work for, would you be more engaged with its long term growth and profitability? If you are a start-up entrepreneur, would you be willing to offer a share in the business to help you attract and retain key staff? The Department of Finance is interested in your views.

The Department is seeking views from businesses of all sizes and operating in all sectors of the economy, as well as individuals, on the practical issues they have encountered with the current ‘Revenue approved’ share schemes, and with the tax treatment of other forms of share-based remuneration. They are also interested in ideas from businesses and individuals on potential alternative methods of taxing share-based remuneration and any relevant supporting justifications.

To that end, a public consultation on the taxation of share based remuneration was launched by Minister Noonan in recent days, following on from a commitment made in the Programme for Government to explore the mechanisms through which SMEs can reward key employees with share options in a tax efficient way. 

Speaking about the consultation, Minister Noonan said: "Now is a good time to review the tax treatment of share based remuneration, including consideration of whether existing supports can be targeted more effectively. I encourage all interested parties to make a submission and participate in the development of policy in this area.”

Full details of the public consultation and how to respond are available on the Department of Finance's website.

The last day for submissions is Friday 1 July.