When we invest in shares, ETFs or other financial instruments, we are not only trying to build our own wealth. We are also providing businesses with access to new sources of funding, helping them grow, create jobs and compete internationally.
So what is holding us back from investing and earning higher long-term returns than those offered by bank deposits?
One important part of the answer lies in Ireland’s current tax regime. Instead of incentivising long-term investing, it often does the opposite.
Retail investors pay 33pc Capital Gains Tax on profits from their sale of shares. Diversified investments such as Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are subject to an even higher 38pc exit tax.
Ireland also applies the unusual eight-year “deemed disposal” rule. After eight years, investors in ETFs must pay tax on gains as if they had sold their investment, even if they haven’t. So investors are taxed on gains they have not yet realised, weakening the power of long-term compounding, and penalising diversified investing.
Some 78pc of all European ETF assets are domiciled here, amounting to €1.8tn. This is a remarkable achievement yet they are essentially closed to Irish citizens for investing.
The issue is not that Ireland taxes investment gains – all economies do. The problem is how we do so. Many countries actively encourage retail investment through tax-advantaged savings and investment vehicles – the ISA in the UK, the PEA in France, the PIR in Italy, and Sweden’s ISK. These initiatives recognise that household savings can play an important role in supporting domestic investment and economic growth.
It’s not enough to learn about investing; individuals need to experience it for real.
There was really strong energy in the room to get this established as soon as possible
The European Commission is encouraging member states to develop tax-efficient investment vehicles to strengthen the Savings and Investments Union, and finance the green and digital transitions, but Ireland lacks a comparable framework. The Government’s proposed retail investment roadmap provides an opportunity to modernise Ireland’s investment framework.
Earlier this week, the Government held its first savings and investment forum. There was really strong energy in the room to get this established as soon as possible. Having now canvassed views, Ireland needs to move swiftly to plan, design and implement the key components of a new savings and investment account regime, including the specific product features, taxation incentives and distribution channels.
There is broad support for a Swedish-style model, but we need to move fast to identify any local elements to be included before it goes live in 2027.
When the Irish REITs regime was set up, the industry came together with a vision, energy and determination that went from concept to live product in record time. We need a rinse and repeat of this model. The good news is that not only is the political drive strong, but there’s also a huge swell of support from many parts of the economy behind getting a savings and investment account regime up and running.
Let’s tap into this now. Start with something simple to get it off the ground, and implement a regime that will benefit Irish citizens and households and fuel the growth of domestic enterprise. If we get this right, we’ll create a product that not only delivers for our generation, but for many generations to follow.
Daryl Byrne is CEO of Euronext Dublin
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