Corporation tax receipts jump to €4.9bn in September as multinationals pay early

Multinationals brought forward tax payments, boosting September receipts but prompting the Department of Finance to lower its near-term forecast

The Exchequer returns for September show that €4.9bn in corporation tax was collected, compared with €1.8bn in September 2025.

Almost €5bn was collected in corporation tax in September, as major multinational companies settle their tax bills early

The Exchequer returns for September show that €4.9bn in corporation tax was collected, compared with €1.8bn in September 2025.

The Department of Finance said the sharp increase in corporation tax receipts stemmed from several large multinational corporations frontloading their tax bills for August and September, instead of paying them in November and December.

This means that corporation tax receipts are expected to fall in the traditional payment months, with the Department of Finance forecasting that it will collect €1bn less than forecast in April.

However, the department expects that €1bn to be collected in early 2027.

In total, €22.7bn in corporation tax has been collected up to the end of September.

Income tax and excise

So far in 2026, €27.8bn in income tax has been collected, including €2.8bn in September. This is €0.2bn ahead of the September 2026 profile.

There has been a €0.1bn fall in excise duty collected, with €0.4bn recorded in September.

A total of €4.4bn in excise receipts has been collected this year, down from €4.8bn over the same period in 2025.

However, the Department of Finance has argued that this fall is likely due to the reduction in excise duty on fuel introduced by the Government earlier this year.

September is a VAT payment month, with €4.1bn collected during the month, up €0.6bn compared with the same period in 2025.

Other taxes collected in September include €1.2bn in stamp duty, €586m in Capital Gains Tax and €286m in Capital Acquisitions Tax.

Exchequer surplus

A total of €93.7bn has been spent so far this year.

The wider returns show the Government recorded a surplus of €2.4bn at the end of September, compared with a €1.4bn surplus at the same point last year.

However, the Department of Finance has said these comparisons are impacted by the Apple tax ruling in 2024.

Ireland has also seen a decrease in the cost of servicing its debt, with debt-servicing costs standing at €2bn at the end of last month.

This is down by €0.6bn compared with 2025.