Legal Updates

One of the key drivers behind the growth and development of the Irish Funds Industry has been the favourable Irish taxation regime for regulated collective investment funds (“Investment Undertakings”).

This favourable taxation regime essentially provides that Investment Undertakings themselves are not chargeable to Irish tax in respect of their relevant income & gains and furthermore non-resident investors are not taxed in Ireland on either (i) a disposal of their shares/units in the Investment Undertaking or (ii) distributions from the Investment Undertaking. Investment Undertakings are not treated as tax transparent for Irish tax purposes. This can be contrasted with Common Contractual Funds (“CCFs”) and Investment Limited Partnerships (“ILPs”) which are treated as Irish tax transparent.

Notwithstanding the above, it is important to note that Investment Undertakings, CCFs and ILPs have certain tax registration and filing requirements to comply with under Irish tax law. It is important that Irish tax advices are sought from the outset so as to ensure that the various tax registration and filing requirements are satisfied as Irish tax law provides for the imposition of interest and penalties for failure to comply with such requirements.

This publication provides an outline of some of the main Irish tax considerations for an Investment Undertaking, CCF and ILP from a registration and filing perspective on set-up.

Please note that this publication does not cover Investment Undertakings which would be regarded as Irish Real Estate Funds and specific advices should be sought in the case of such funds.

1. Investment Undertaking Tax

Following authorisation by the Central Bank of Ireland and launch an Investment Undertaking must register for investment undertaking tax (“IUT”) with the Irish Revenue Commissioners (“Revenue”).

Once registered for IUT an Investment Undertaking will be allocated a tax reference number by Revenue and this will allow the required bi-annual IUT Returns to be made in respect of the Investment Undertaking.

Investment Undertakings are not subject to Irish taxation on any income or gains they may realise from their investments and there are no Irish withholding taxes in respect of a distribution of payments by Investment Undertakings to non-resident investors or on any encashment, redemption, cancellation or transfer of units in respect of non-resident investors. However, to the extent there are Irish resident investors (other than certain categories of exempt Irish investors or were the Investment Undertaking’s units are held in a recognised clearing system) tax must be deducted by the Investment Undertaking on distributions made to such Irish resident investors. The purpose of the bi-annual IUT Returns is to facilitate the collection of any such taxes (appropriate tax) that are due.

Consequently, these IUT Returns would typically be “nil” where there are no Irish resident investors or were the Investment Undertaking’s units are held in a recognised clearing system, but the IUT Returns are required nonetheless to be filed even where no tax liability arises. The IUT Returns cover the periods from 1st January to 30th June and 1st July to 31st December each year with the submission of the IUT Return together with any appropriate tax being due within 30 days of the ending of relevant periods (i.e. on or before 30 July and 30 January respectively).

2. CCFs and ILPs

CCFs and ILPs are treated as tax transparent entities from an Irish tax perspective¹ . Therefore, the income and gains (and losses in the case of an ILP) are treated as arising (or accruing as the case may be) to the investors as if the income and gains did not pass through the hands of the CCF or the ILP.

CCFs and ILPs are nevertheless still required to in respect of each tax year of assessment (currently a calendar year) to file with the Revenue on or before 28 February in the year following the year of assessment certain details regarding the income and gains (and losses in the case of an ILP) arising to the CCF and ILP in the year of assessment and details of each investor and the amount attributable to each investor and any other information that the Revenue may require.

3. Value Added Tax

The investment activities of an Investment Undertaking, a CCF and an ILP are generally VAT exempt activities such that VAT registration is not required in respect of these exempt activities.

Accordingly, in the case of Investment Undertakings, CCFs and ILPs, it is typically the receipt of certain VAT-able services from outside of Ireland (e.g. foreign legal or accounting services) which triggers an obligation to register and self-account for Irish VAT. Such foreign VAT-able services which give rise to a VAT registration obligation are commonly referred to as business to business services.

Once registered for VAT, an Investment Undertaking, a CCF and an ILP will have certain VAT filing requirements and may depending upon the location of investments or investors have an entitlement to VAT recovery (albeit it should be noted that VAT recovery may also be possible even where VAT registration is not required). It should be remembered that VAT registration is not optional i.e. an Investment Undertaking, a CCF or an ILP either has or does not have an obligation to register for VAT. The ability of an Investment Undertaking, a CCF or an ILP to recover VAT is not dependent on the Investment Undertaking, CCF or ILP being VAT registered.

4. Pay As You Earn / Payroll Taxes

The PAYE system is the system used in Ireland to collect at source income tax, levies & charges and is required to be operated in the first instance by the employer company on making relevant payments/emoluments to either an employee or director.

Under Irish tax law, remuneration arising from the office of director of an Irish incorporated company (such as an Irish incorporated corporate fund) is subject to the PAYE system of deductions at source (together with social insurance contributions and the universal social charge, where appropriate) and that this is the position irrespective of either the tax residence of the director in question or where the duties of the office are performed. The only exception to the requirement to operate the PAYE system is where the director in question has obtained a PAYE Exclusion Order.

Once registered for PAYE, an Investment Undertaking will have certain payroll filing requirements with Revenue.

5. Common Reporting Standard (“CRS”) and Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”)

Broadly speaking, CRS and FATCA are both reporting mechanisms that place obligations on Irish Reporting Financial Institutions (as the term is defined under FATCA and CRS) to identify and report specific information in respect of certain of their account holders (and, in particular situations, controlling persons of such account holders).

Both mechanisms have significant similarities. However, whereas FATCA essentially only requires reporting of specific information in relation to certain US persons, CRS has a significantly wider ambit due to the multiple jurisdictions participating in the regime.

On set-up, an Investment Undertaking or CCF or ILP is required to determine its FATCA and CRS status (given the similarities between the regimes, it would be very common for an Investment Undertaking, a CCF or an ILP’s FATCA and CRS status to be the same).

To the extent that an Investment Undertaking, a CCF or an ILP is a Reporting Financial Institution for FATCA and/or CRS purposes, it will have the following requirements;

1. Register with the IRS for FATCA purposes (in order to obtain a Global Intermediary Identification Number or “GIIN”);
2. Register for FATCA and/or CRS with Revenue for the purposes of annual reporting;
3. Perform ongoing FATCA and/or CRS due diligence requirements;
4. File an annual FATCA and/or CRS return with Revenue in respect of each calendar year by 30 June of the following year.

In respect of (3) above, the due diligence requirements are detailed and complex. However, as an overall comment, it is important that the relevant fund documentation is reviewed to ensure that the relevant certifications, disclosures etc. are included (this is particularly the case on set-up).

It should be noted that most Investment Undertakings, CCFs and ILPs would fall to be considered Reporting Financial Institutions for both FATCA and CRS purposes. Notwithstanding this, depending on the specific type of debt and equity interests in the Investment Undertaking or CCF or ILP, it may be possible to qualify as a Non-Reporting Financial Institution for FATCA and/or CRS purposes. This has the benefit of removing the obligations to register and file annual returns (however, limited due diligence requirements still exist and should be performed).

In addition, where an Investment Undertaking or CCF or ILP is structured as an umbrella fund, there is an option to apply FATCA and CRS at either the umbrella or sub-level. To the extent that the option is made to apply FATCA and/or CRS at a sub-fund level, each sub-fund would establish its own FATCA and CRS status and, depending on the particular sub-fund’s FATCA/CRS status, it may or may not have FATCA/CRS registration, due diligence and reporting requirements.

6. Return of Values

Under the Return of Values (Investment Undertakings) Regulations 2013, certain Investment Undertakings are required to make an annual return to Revenue containing details of the values of investments held by certain unit holders. The annual return in respect of a calendar year is due by 31 March of the following year.

However, the reporting requirements do not apply to "excepted unit holders”. The definition of “excepted unit holders” is quite broad and includes (i) non-resident investors who have either supplied a non-resident declaration or where the Investment Undertaking has put in place equivalent measures with the written approval of Revenue, (ii) exempt Irish investors (e.g. Section 110 companies, pension schemes, charities, other Investment Undertaking’s, etc.) provided the relevant declarations have been made and (iii) unit holders who hold units through a recognised clearing system.

An Investment Undertaking is not required to deliver a return for a year where the only unit holders are excepted unit holders (although, Revenue have noted that it would be of assistance if an e-mail confirming this was sent to their Planning Division).

Therefore, for the large majority of Investment Undertakings, this legislation should have little (if any) impact.

7. Mandatory Disclosure Rules

Council Directive (EU) 2018/822 (amending Directive 2011/16/EU), commonly referred to as “DAC6”, became effective on 25 June 2018. Relevant Irish tax legislation has since been introduced to implement this Directive in Ireland.

DAC6 creates an obligation for persons referred to as “intermediaries” to make a return to the relevant tax authorities of information regarding certain cross-border arrangements with particular characteristics, referred to as “hallmarks” (most of which focus on aggressive tax planning arrangements). In certain circumstances, instead of an intermediary, the obligation to report may pass to the relevant taxpayer of a reportable cross-border arrangement.

There is still a certain amount of ambiguity in respect of the implementation of DAC6 in Ireland – in particular, its exact scope as it relates to Investment Undertakings, CCFs and ILPs. Revenue guidance is currently in the process of being drafted which should provide clarity on a range of matters.

• Tax Checklist on the Set-Up of an Investment Undertaking, CCF or ILP

The following is a checklist of the primary actions that should be taken from an Irish tax perspective on the set-up of an Investment Undertaking or CCF or ILP. It does not pertain to cover all tax matters that could be relevant to an Investment Undertaking or CCF or ILP. In this regard, Irish tax advice should always be sought on the set-up of an Investment Undertaking, CCF or ILP.
Dillon Eustace can assist with the provision of these advices and the below services (a comprehensive list of Dillon Eustace services is set out in the final section of this publication).

• Overview of On-going Filing Dates

Dillon Eustace can assist and advise in respect of the above tax obligations (a comprehensive list of Dillon Eustace services is set out in the next section of this publication).

Dillon Eustace - Tax Services

Our Tax team is multi-disciplinary and is comprised of a combination of tax, legal and accounting professionals who provide a full service Irish tax practice with extensive experience advising a broad range of international and domestic clients. We advise across all tax heads and have considerable experience and expertise in the areas of Asset Management, Securitisation and Structured Finance, Private Equity, Capital Markets, Aviation Financing, Banking, Treasury, Life Assurance and Reinsurance. We provide a comprehensive range of taxation services to our international and domestic clients in conjunction with our legal colleagues and counsels in other jurisdictions based on extensive relationships built up over many years.

In the context of asset management such services include:-

• Advising on all aspects of taxation with regard to Investment Undertakings, CCFs and ILPs with respect to structuring of cross border transactions in a tax efficient manner including but not limited to fund re-organisations and migrations;
• Advices with respect to accessing Ireland’s extensive network of double taxation agreements and assisting with double taxation treaty claims (on a case by case basis) including obtaining certificates of tax residence from Revenue;
• Advices regarding tax structuring (via the use of intermediate tax efficient investment vehicles) to obtain treaty benefits;
• Provision of FATCA and CRS advices. To include, advising on the FATCA and CRS status of the Investment Undertaking or CCF or ILP, assisting with registration requirements (both with Revenue and the IRS), reviewing the relevant fund documentation to ensure the correct inclusion of the relevant certifications, disclosures etc. and advising on the various on-going FATCA and CRS due diligence and reporting requirements that apply to the Investment Undertaking or CCF or ILP.
• Arranging for any tax registrations (i.e. IUT, PAYE and VAT) required with Revenue in addition to provision of on-going advices with respect to same;
• Advising on a robust range of VAT matters (for example, the correct Irish VAT treatment of services provided to the Investment Undertaking or CCF or ILP);
• Provision of comprehensive VAT compliance services, to include preparation of the bi-monthly VAT returns and the filing of the annual return of trading details;
• Drafting of appropriate Irish taxation insertions and disclosures in fund documentation;
• Stamp duty (transfer tax) advices with regard to the transfer of assets to or from an Investment Undertaking or CCF or ILP;
• Advices in respect of Investment Undertakings which would be regarded as Irish Real Estate Funds; and
• Advising Investment Undertakings, CCFs and ILPs in respect of any reporting obligations that they or any other relevant parties (e.g. investment managers, shareholders etc.) may have in respect of the Mandatory Disclosure Regime (DAC6).

¹UCITS CCFs strictly fall within the Investment Undertaking regime. However, this regime is essentially disapplied where the UCITS is a CCF. Instead, the CCF regime is applied and the UCITS CCF is treated as tax transparent from an Irish tax perspective (as above).

²This is extended from the 19th of the month where the Investment Undertaking or CCF or ILP pays and files its VAT return using Revenue’s Online Service (“ROS”).