The Revenue Commissioners (Revenue) have a wide range of powers to oblige taxpayers to provide information on certain payments made to third parties. For example, the Form 46G requires taxpayers to provide information on payments related to services made to Irish companies or individuals.
Another reporting requirement relates to income received by a person belonging to another person. This information needs to be submitted to Revenue in a Form 8-2. In its eBrief No. 78/16, Revenue has clarified that the Form 8-2 needs to be completed by intermediary websites, such as Airbnb, who collect monies on behalf of persons using their services for business purposes.
The Form 8-2 and other third party filing obligations tend to be overlooked by taxpayers but these obligations need to be considered by taxpayers given that they are required to be filed on a self-assessment basis. Therefore, it is important to note that:
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The Form 8-2 should be filed on a self-assessment basis without prior notification from Revenue.
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To be included on the Form 8-2, income received by a person on behalf of another person must be chargeable to tax on the other person.
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Total payments to any one person for a year need only be included on the Form 8-2 where the amounts exceed €3,810.
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Filing is required within 9 months of year end (or the end of the date to which accounts are filed).
Contributed by Ted McGrath and David Barron