Shay Brennan challenges same-day reporting burden on SMEs
Shay Brennan raised concerns about the burden that Revenue's enhanced reporting requirements for employee benefits place on small and medium-sized enterprises across Ireland. He argued that same-day reporting for minor non-cash benefits creates disproportionate bureaucracy and asked for a review of the real-time regime to reduce administrative strain on SMEs.
Issue raised
Brennan said SMEs must now report even the smallest non-cash benefits, sometimes just €10 in value, to Revenue on or before the day they are provided. He warned that this obligation forces business owners to divert time and resources away from core operations and that many SMEs lack in-house payroll or HR to manage the new duties.
Scale and financial risk
He noted that SMEs make up over 270,000 businesses in Ireland and highlighted the punitive risk involved: if a small business waits until the next day to report a minor transaction, it may face a €4,000 fine per breach. Brennan framed the new requirements as a disproportionate layer of bureaucracy for already pressured businesses.
Request for review
Brennan asked whether same-day reporting for every small benefit is necessary and sought a commitment to review the real-time reporting regime to reduce its administrative burden and help preserve the viability of small businesses in Ireland.
Government response
A government representative affirmed support for SMEs and outlined measures already taken, including an SME test for proposals and establishing a new small business unit in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The representative said Revenue applied the rules impartially and committed to asking the Minister for Finance to engage with the Revenue Commissioners and report back on the issue.
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I want to raise the significant burden that revenues, enhanced reporting requirements for employee benefits, are placing on small and medium-sized enterprises across Ireland. While the aim may be transparency, the reality is that SMEs must now report even the smallest non-cash benefits, sometimes just €10 in value, to revenue on or before the day that they are provided. As you know, SMEs make up over 270,000 businesses in Ireland and are already facing many challenges. These new requirements add a disproportionate layer of bureaucracy, forcing business owners to divert precious time and resources away from their core operations. Many SMEs do not have in-house payroll or HR, making it even harder to keep up with these obligations. If a small business waits until the next day to report a minor transaction, they may face a €4,000 fine per breach, a significant risk for businesses already under pressure. Is it really necessary to require same-day reporting for every small benefit? Would you commit to reviewing the real-time regime to reduce its administrative burden in order to help preserve the viability of small businesses in Ireland? MR. Thanks very much Deputy Brennan for raising this issue. This is a government that is very keen to support small and medium enterprises. They make up the backbone of our economy and every community that we proudly represent in Dáil Éireann. We have taken two measures already. The SME test in making sure that all proposals come to government are put through the prism of what is the impact on our small and medium business and also establishing a new small business unit in the Department of Enterprise Tourism and Employment. Obviously revenue applied the rules in an impartial way, but I will certainly ask the view of the Minister for Finance and ask him to engage with the revenue commissioners and come back to you on this, because we certainly do not want to see any unnecessary bureaucracy above and beyond what's required to ensure revenue can do their job. Thank you.
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