Budget 2022 looks more positive by contrast to Budget 2021, where we saw unprecedented levels of financial supports being provided to support the Irish economy because of COVID-19 and a no deal Brexit looming. This year is a testament to the changing economic landscape.

Budget 2022 is based on an economic atmosphere where we have seen strong GDP growth in 2021 and an improvement in public finances created by strong taxation receipts.

The key changes and developments on the tax measures announced are as follows:

On 1 July 2021, the VAT rules on cross-border-business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce activities changed. The rationale for these changes is to overcome barriers to cross-border online sales and address challenges arising from the VAT regimes for distance sales of goods and for the importation of low value consignments. It is envisaged that EU Businesses will be able to grow in a simplified, fairer environment within the European Digital Single Market.

Last November, we explored some of the options available to company proprietors when deciding the future of their businesses, with a particular focus on liquidation. In this issue, we are now going to touch on some considerations regarding the going concern of a business and when business owners need to take a pragmatic view of how their business is performing. Not every business is going to be a success but the best business people find this out fast and understand it is not a reflection on them – instead of being emotionally attached, they take a clinical overview and move on to new business avenues and prove their success that way.