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Entrepreneur Tax Relief

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Entrepreneur Tax Relief

This relief gives a CGT rate of 10% on gains from the disposal of qualifying business assets. This is reduced from the normal rate of 33%.

There is a lifetime limit of €1 million on the gains that you can claim relief on. Only gains on disposals made on or after 1 January 2016 are counted in the limit.

The relief does not apply to disposals of:

  • shares (other than shares that qualify for relief under this section), securities or other assets held as investments
  • development land
  • assets on the disposal of which no chargeable gain would arise
  • assets personally owned outside a company, even where such assets are used by the company
  • goodwill which is disposed of to a connected company
  • shares or securities in a company where the individual remains connected with the company following the disposal.

How do you qualify for the relief?

You must have owned the business assets for a continuous period of three years. The three years must be in the five years immediately prior to the disposal. The business asset must be used for a qualifying business. In the case of shares, you must have owned at least 5% of the ordinary shares for a continuous period of three years. The three-year period can be at any time prior to the disposal.

Qualifying business assets

Qualifying business assets are:

  • shares held by an individual in a trading company
  • owned by a sole trader and used in their trade.

Qualifying business

A qualifying business is a business other than the:

  • holding of securities or other assets as investments
  • holding of development land
  • development or letting of land.

Qualifying business operated by a company

Where a business is operated by a company you must have owned at least 5% of the ordinary shares in either:

  • the company
  • a holding company of a qualifying group.

This means that the relief would not apply where:

  • there is a dormant company in a group
  • one of the subsidiaries is not a trading company.

Qualifying company operated by an individual

You must have been a director or employee of the qualifying company or companies in a qualifying group. You must have:

  • spent no less than 50% of your time in the service of the company (or companies) in a managerial or technical capacity
  • served in that capacity for a continuous period of three years. The three years must be in the five years immediately prior to the disposal of the business assets.

Why Work with Gallagher Keane Chartered Accountants?

Gallagher Keane provide professional accounting, tax, and financial advice. We can help you to make better informed business decisions to reach your goals effectively.

 

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