Irish tax policy coupled with one of the lowest EU corporation tax rates at 12.5% could be at risk after the Apple ruling and with wider plans to introduce a consolidated single corporation tax rate across the EU27, reports Jaimie Kaffash
The UK exit from the EU will be the centre of attention here in the next few years with tax policy proving one of the government’s tools to attract and retain global businesses. But interesting developments are also happening a short hop away in Ireland. In stark contrast to its closest neighbour, Ireland has embraced its European identity.
Whereas the UK has always been sceptical about the European project, Ireland has joined the eurozone, while a European Commission poll last year found that 77% of Irish people considered themselves a citizen of the EU – one of the highest among member states.
Ireland is soon to occupy a special position in the EU as it becomes the only English-speaking country in the single market and the only member state to share a border with the UK.
