Commonly called the Emerald Isles Ireland is quite literally the UK’s neighbour so for one thing moving back to the UK to visit friends and family will be easy and affordable, but it’s not just its proximity to the UK that makes Ireland a great place to live.
Ireland might be similar to the UK in many ways but there’s also a lot of differences, stunning scenery, a fascinating culture and a rich history are all waiting for you to explore, friendly locals and great employment opportunities are just some of the many reasons to make a home for yourself in Ireland.
But before we take a closer look at some of the great reasons to make a new home for yourself in Ireland let’s take a look at another interesting benefit that you might not know about. Yes it’s all about tax, did you know you could actually be due a tax refund if you move to Ireland?
Claiming UK Tax Back
The first thing you need to know about Ireland is that despite its proximity to the UK the countries are separate when it comes to tax. All the tax matters for Ireland are controlled by the office of the revenue commissioners and not HMRC, however, similar guidelines can apply.
If you are employed or a self employed CIS sub contractor before you leave the UK it’s highly likely you will be entitled to some sort of income tax rebate in the tax year you stop working.
You will need to inform HMRC either before or after you move using the proper documentation, namely the P85 and P45 forms. If you are due a refund then HMRC may also ask you for a self assessment tax return as well.
There is also a double taxation agreement in place between the UK and Ireland which covers income tax, so if you are charged twice on your income (in both the UK and Ireland) you can claim that back as well.
If you are reading this an Irish citizen the same rules can be used when claiming UK tax back, so if you have worked and left the UK within the last four tax years you should look into your eligibility.
Rich History and Culture
Ireland as a rich history and culture everyone knows at least one Irish folklore tale, don’t they? And you can explore beautiful historic castles and stunning mountains without even needing to travel far, there’s also the many famous Irish arts to explore including music and dance. Not to mention in Ireland you’ll get to celebrate St Patrick’s day in the proper Irish style.
Sports Galore
Ireland is a very sport loving country and sports of all kinds are celebrated including golf, football, rugby, dance and much more. Whatever sports you love you’ll find plenty of people to share that passion within Ireland. There’s state of the art stadiums, beautiful gold courses and we are of course the home of traditional Irish dancing so whatever sports you love come celebrate them in style.
Great Employment Opportunities
Finding employment in Ireland shouldn’t be a problem you might even be able to transfer your employment to an Irish branch of your employer in the UK if there is one. But even if you can’t you’ll find a wide variety of different employment opportunities.
Plus if you’ve always dreamed of working for one of the leading tech giants like Google, Amazon or Facebook (to name just a few) then you’re in luck because many of them have headquarters in Ireland because of the low tax rates.
It’s Close To Home
Ireland is very close to the UK and that’s not a bad thing! After all, if you ever get a little home sick then going to visit friends and family will be quick, easy and affordable, plus they can always come and see you as well without having to save up first. It also means that all your favourite brands will likely be available as well, so importing goods in or searching high and low for a taste of home won’t be problems you’ll have to deal with.
Warm and Friendly People
The Irish people are very friendly and open and they always see the funny side of things, plus don’t worry about the whole England and Irish rivalry it’s not taken seriously. To the majority of people, it’s all just a bit of fun so making new friends will be easy!
