New research suggests that companies may be failing to claim $30bn each year in VAT recovery from travel expenditure.

The Restaurants Association of Ireland says the increase - from 9%to 13.5% - has led to an average of one restaurant closing down every week.

Revenue have this week announced a delay in the planned increase in VAT rate from 0% to 23% in respect of certain food supplements such as vitamins, minerals, fish oils, writes Kieran Coughlin

The Revenue Commissioners has delayed the introduction of an increased 23% VAT rate for food supplements until November 1, following a political outcry and protests outside the Dáil.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has refused to interfere with a decision by Revenue to add 23% VAT to food supplements, an increase Opposition TDs claim is a "stealth tax" which will impact on those in need of vitamins.

Vat is an invisible tax for most of us. It’s built into the price of almost everything we pay for — clothing, fuel, and some foodstuffs along with many services, writes Brian Keegan

Record Vat revenues helped the Exchequer take in 7% more in overall tax revenues last month than in January 2018, but spending was also up sharply.

Irish health food retailers estimate that up to 1,800 jobs will be put at risk when a 23% VAT rate is imposed on food supplements, vitamins and minerals, from March 1.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said that he will not do anything to “unravel” the Public Service pay agreement.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe was told that ending the special Vat rate for hotels and restaurants would have a minimal impact on the public.

The Chief Executive of the Irish Restaurants Association, Adrian Cummins has warned that the 50% increase in VAT for the sector is going to lead to the closure of restaurants and job losses.

Rising revenue and a record number of overseas visitors made 2018 a highly successful year for Irish tourism, but industry chiefs are warning of upcoming threats to the sector in the form of Brexit and an impending VAT hike.

The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation predict the sector can increase by between 5% and 7% in 2019.

A new VAT compensation scheme for charities is set to be introduced in the New Year.

Revenue have issued notification that their VAT58 procedure is now going online effective from January 1, 2019.

The Justice Minister insists the increase in VAT in the hospitality sector will not "see the sky falling in".

The increased capital spending announced in today's Budget has been welcomed by the Irish SME Association, ISME.

The Restaurants Association of Ireland has called on Tourism Minister Shane Ross to resign over the hotel VAT hike u-turn, saying he has "consistently failed" the sector.

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has expressed deep concern at reports that the tourism VAT rate is to be increased as part of Budget 2019.

The 9% Vat rate on hotels, B&Bs, and restaurants is to increase by at least two percentage points in next week’s budget, in a bid to raise over €520m, the Irish Examiner can reveal.

The hotel and tourism industry has repeated calls to keep the 9% Vat rate, saying regions outside Dublin will be the biggest loser, especially Cork and Kerry, and with jobs at risk.

Hotels charging more than €150 nightly could be slapped with higher taxes in a likely budget proposal.

To favour any vested interest, be it the in-profit hospitality sector, construction, or rental sectors, with special Vat rates, concessions, or tax breaks while the healthcare and homeless waiting lists are fast approaching the incredible one million mark is obscene, insulting to the people, and breaches those multiple articles in our Constitution which include the words ‘the common good’.

Increased taxes for the tourism sector may only apply to large hotels, according to Minister Shane Ross.

The hotel industry “needs certainty either way” around the future of the 9% Vat rate in order to plan for an estimated 11,000 rooms by 2025, according to an expert in the sector.

The rate was cut from 13.5% to 9% in 2011 during the recession to boost the sector.

The IMF has urged the Government to abolish the special 9% Vat rate for the tourism and hospitality sector, prioritise spending on infrastructure and healthcare, and opt for tax increases rather than cuts in future budgets.

Over the past few weeks I’ve had some conversations with professional investors about the apartment market in Ireland.

AIB has called for tax breaks for developers, incentives for private landlords, encouragement for empty-nesters to move homes, and extending the lifespan of the help-to-buy scheme in order to accelerate housebuilding and lower rental costs across the country, writes Pádraig Hoare.

A plant and machinery dealer has settled with the Revenue for nearly 3.28 million euro after under-declaring VAT.