According to the Revenue website, from December 2009, the Revenue Commissioners will introduce a new system, e-Stamping, for stamping instruments and for paying stamp duty. The new arrangements apply to every instrument that requires to be stamped.

The Revenue information leaflet on the new system notes that the main changes to be introduced are

• a mandatory return for stamp duty setting out all relevant particulars and information required to calculate duty and issue the stamp
• a new process for obtaining a stamp, and
• a new format of stamp.

In addition, it notes other changes include

• Extension of the tax reference number requirement to apply to all instrument types
• More reliance by Revenue on post-stamping checks and audit.

The new system, called e-Stamping, will use Revenue's computer systems to accept stamp duty returns on-line (electronic return) or in paper format (the paper return). It will validate the stamp duty return, calculate the duty payable and process the payment of stamp duty.

The Revenue information leaflet, which provides details on the new procedure, is available at section 2.02 below.