Vision 2030 Jan. 2012 | Page 21

Barry O’Leary, CEO, IDA Ireland, The President of Ireland, An tUachtaráin, Mary McAleese, Liam O’Mahony, Chairman, IDA Ireland Global Business Services IDA Ireland has also facilitated the creation of best practice “Business Service Centres” (BSCs). These centres provide international companies with a base from which they can be confident that their Irish operation will have the ability to adapt and innovate with changing business needs. One of the key advantages for an international company in working with a BSC is that it can devise a “Global Earnings Mobility Strategy” (GEMS) with regard to its tax affairs. Many companies locate the principal business entity in Ireland to avail of the 12.5% corporate tax rate, with the BSC alongside to coordinate supply chain management and handle international relationships, for maximum synergy. In this way Ireland has become recognised internationally as a proven location for companies to maximise the higher elements of the business value chain . Corporation Tax in Ireland • 12.5% corporate tax rate • one of the lowest ‘onshore’ statutory corporate tax rates in the world • not an incentive regime – it is Ireland’s standard tax rate applicable to ‘trading income’ from any sector • an attractive holding company regime, including participation exemption from capital gains tax on disposals of shares in subsidiaries • an effective zero tax on foreign dividends (12.5% tax rate on qualifying foreign dividends, with flexible onshore pooling of foreign tax credits) • Double-taxation agreements with 51 countries Key FDI Impacts on the Irish Economy • €110 billion exports • 240,000 jobs in total • 50% of corporation tax • €19 billion in expenditure • €7 billion in payroll • 73% of business RD&I expenditure 19