CPDStore Ireland

One of the key challenges facing business is raising finance, in particular at the start-up and expansion phases; without it, even the best business ideas will struggle to come to fruition. Tax plays a key role; there are tax implications to consider at all stages of the process, from raising to servicing to ultimately repaying the finance. 

There are also a number of tax-based schemes that can be used to raise finance as well as some new reliefs introduced in the most recent Finance Act that may be of relevance. Clients will expect their accountants to assist and advise on these matters and it will be important for all practitioners, in particular those working in the areas of corporate finance and taxation but also more generally, to have an awareness and understanding of the role that tax can play in raising finance. This course will set out the key tax issues, including an overview of the main tax-based schemes, and practitioners should leave with a good understanding of the tax issues to be aware of when advising clients in this area.

In this session Michael O’Scathaill will cover the following topics;

• Debt v Equity – a tax analysis
• Obtaining tax relief on interest payments – including an overview of Section 247, TCA1997
• Withholding Tax obligations on dividend and interest payments to investors
• Tax-based finance schemes - EIIS, SCI and SURE
• The new tax relief for Qualifying Financing Companies – an overview
• The new Angel Investor CGT Relief – an overview

By attending this session, attendees will get an understanding of the key tax issues to be aware of when advising clients in the area of raising finance and will leave with an appreciation that the tax system can present opportunities as well as threats in this area. This will help inform them in conversations with clients who are seeking advice in this area, and they will have an awareness, at least in outline terms of the key points, pitfalls and opportunities that present themselves.

The session would be of most interest to general practitioners who may not specialise in this area but would nevertheless like an overview and understanding of the key issues to be aware of so that they can discuss them with clients. It may also appeal to those working in corporate finance who would like an understanding of the key tax-based schemes such as EIIS.

Course level: Intermediate