The RSU double-count trap
When RSUs vest, your employer withholds PAYE, USC and PRSI at your marginal rate on the vesting-date value. That value becomes your cost basis. If you sell immediately, the gain is near zero. If you hold and the shares rise, only the increase is taxable as CGT, not the original vesting value. We see this miscalculated constantly.
Option exercises: two tax events, one share
Exercising a non-approved share option is an income-tax event (Relevant Share Option Tax, filed on RTSO1 within 30 days). Selling the resulting share is a CGT event. Two filings, two deadlines, and a cost basis that includes both the exercise price and the income taxed at grant.
ESPP disposals
Your ESPP shares were bought at a discount. That discount was taxed as a perquisite through payroll. The cost basis for CGT is the market price on purchase date, not what you paid. A mistake here typically overstates your gain by 15%.
Filing CG1 and paying on time
CGT on disposals between January and November is due by 15 December. Disposals in December are due by 31 January. The CG1 return itself is filed by the following 31 October. Miss the payment and interest accrues at 0.0219% per day.
FAQ
I sold €50,000 of RSU shares. What will I owe? +
Depends on vesting-date value vs. sale price. If the shares rose 20% post-vest, the gain is ~€10,000; after the €1,270 exemption, CGT of ~33% × €8,730 = €2,881. But the actual number turns on the cost basis, which is where most errors happen.
Is this a one-off engagement or annual? +
Can be either. Most tech employees engage us annually during the October filing window; some engage only when a large disposal happens.
What's your fee? +
We'll send a proposal after a short introductory call so you know the scope and cost before any work starts.