The Minister for Finance announced last month that there will be no change to the tax payment deadlines for the self-employed in 2014. The Department of Finance published a consultation paper on this matter on 11 October 2013. The consultation paper proposed that Self-Assessed Income Taxpayers would pay and file either in June or in September, rather than November as is currently the case. Chartered Accountants Ireland made a strong response to the consultation, arguing that the cash flow implications and disruption to business would far outweigh any benefits to the National Budgetary process. No changes to the Self-Assessment Income Tax Pay and File deadline will be implemented until 2015 at the earliest.

In our response to the consultation process which was made as part of CCAB-I, our main point was that there should be no change to either the Payment or Filing dates as specified in the Consultation paper (see the November issue of tax.point for further commentary). Any change to the filing date would cause practical difficulties for taxpayers, and for Chartered Accountants who are involved in the preparation of a significant majority of self-assessed income tax returns. There are significant matters to be considered such as existing work schedules, clashes with corporation tax return deadlines and exam schedules for trainees. While we respect Ireland’s international obligation to formulate its annual Budgets earlier, it does not follow that bringing forward Payment or Filing dates will improve the Budgetary process.

We also made particular effort to bring the matter to public attention. As well as offering media comment, we wrote to the Deputies and Senators who are members of the Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service on 14 October to point out the consequences of the change to the Pay and File date. We formally raised the necessity for further engagement on Pay and File with Revenue via the Main TALC process.

No provision was made at Committee Stage in the Finance (No.2) Bill 2013 to bring forward the Pay and File deadline for the self-employed. Such provision may be made in next year’s Finance Act, but no changes will be implemented until 2015 at the earliest.

Chartered Accountants Ireland will continue to consult with Government to ensure that any future changes to be made are kept to the minimum necessary and with appropriate preparation and lead in times for the taxpayers involved.