In this episode of Irish Tax Unwrapped, we dive into one of the most avoidable — and expensive — inheritance tax blunders in recent memory. A perfectly planned agricultural relief claim? Check. Clear instructions to the solicitor? Check. But when it came to execution, the holiday-bound solicitor had other priorities… and the whole plan went south.

Join Josh, Daphne, and Derek as they unpack the history and mechanics of agricultural relief — from medieval landholding tricks like fee tail and life interest arrangements, to the 1970s clampdown that gave birth to the relief we know today. Then, we break down how the relief works (and fails) in practice, through a real-life case where poor sequencing and paperwork led to a substantial tax bill.

In this episode we cover:

• The farmer test, qualifying assets, tax traps, clawbacks, and general requirements for agricultural relief
• Why intent isn’t enough — and execution is everything
• A cautionary tale for anyone planning to transfer land

Plus, in Tax News: we explore the Covidien VAT ruling and what it means for Irish companies, and the PAYE risks still haunting directors long after liquidation.

And in our Tax Relief Spotlight: how Special Needs Trusts can protect vulnerable family members from losing access to critical supports.

Irish Tax Unwrapped, Episode 9 — where timing is everything, and even good advice can fall flat if no one delivers.

Visit Coventure Tax Consulting for more information on tax matters.

What do medieval guilds, ancient Chinese merchants, and modern Irish family businesses have in common? In this episode of Irish Tax Unwrapped, we explore how humans have motivated work, rewarded loyalty, and shared wealth — from the spice-laden markets of Chang’an, to the fields of feudal Europe and right up to today's boardrooms and tax planning meetings.

Join Josh, Daphne, and Derek as they unravel the story of growth shares — sleek, strategic equity tools that are revolutionising how companies incentivise staff and plan generational wealth transfers. The episode covers:-

• What are growth shares
• The income tax and CGT implications for employee shares generally and growth shares
• The estate planning benefits of growth shares for family companies
• How growth shares are valued
• The interaction of growth shares with inheritance tax ‘business relief’
• How growth shares achieve substantial tax savings in practice
• The importance of planning ahead

Along the way, we spotlight ancient joint-stock systems, dissect recent tax cases (hello, mental earmarking), and introduce a new segment: the Tax Relief Spotlight, kicking off with the Dwelling House Exemption.

If you’ve ever wondered what links a Tang Dynasty merchant with a modern-day founder — or how to pass on wealth without handing over a tax headache — this one’s for you.

Visit Coventure Tax Consulting for more information on tax matters.

In this second podcast on taxing property we discuss the tax treatment of government contracts, VAT pitfalls and estate planning. The landscape of property taxation is a strategic game where classification is everything. What seems like a straightforward rental income could, in fact, be trading income—bringing a completely different tax treatment.

Join Josh, along with tax experts Daphne and Derek, as they break down:

The Investment vs. Trading Divide – The crucial distinction between passive rental income and active property businesses. We discuss cases where landlords operating emergency accommodation for local councils were reclassified as businesses and how this shift impacted their tax bills.

VAT Pitfalls & Planning – Many landlords and Airbnb operators assume VAT doesn’t apply to them—until they breach the €40,000 threshold or sign a government contract. We explore how VAT exemptions work, when rental income becomes VATable, and why failing to plan ahead could cut deeply into your margins.

Business Relief & Estate Planning – When it comes to inheritance tax, the difference between an investment and a trading business can mean paying 33% tax or just 3.3%. We look at real cases where property owners won—and lost—their fight for business relief and why proving "active management" is the key to securing tax benefits.

With real-world tax cases, sharp insights, and a few rugby analogies along the way, this episode is a must-listen for advisors, investors, and anyone earning income from property.

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Visit Coventure Tax Consulting for more information on tax matters.