Running a business in Ireland means juggling a lot of responsibilities, and one tax form that often confuses business owners is Form 46G. This guide explains what it is, why Revenue requires it, the risks of not filing, and how to keep it simple.
What Is Form 46G?
Form 46G is a yearly return that reports payments above a set annual threshold made to any one supplier for services during the year. See Revenue’s Form 46G overview for the current threshold. It applies to self-employed individuals, companies, and other organisations, and must be filed in addition to your annual tax return.
Think of it as a reporting tool: you’re letting Revenue know which service providers you paid significant amounts to, so Revenue can cross-check this against the income those providers declare in their own returns.
Who Must File Form 46G?
The obligation applies broadly. You’ll typically need to file if you’re a sole trader or professional (consultants, accountants, solicitors, farmers, architects, engineers, and similar), a company (Irish or foreign, trading in Ireland), or a partnership, trust, charity, or unincorporated body such as a sports club or statutory body. Government departments and entities already filing under a separate reporting section are generally exempt. See Revenue’s Tax and Duty Manual on third-party returns for the full exemption detail.
What Payments Are Included?
Revenue isn’t interested in all payments, just certain types.
Reportable payments typically include: fees to accountants, solicitors, consultants, or IT contractors; payments to training providers, recruitment agencies, or marketing firms; charges for design, surveying, engineering, or professional advice; services connected with the formation, acquisition, or sale of a business; and copyright and intellectual property payments.
Not reportable: payments below the reporting threshold to a single supplier in the year; wages, salaries, or payments already covered by PAYE; subcontractor payments already reported under RCT; withholding tax payments already captured by Revenue; utility bills; and payments where goods make up the large majority of the charge (for example, buying equipment where installation is a small portion of the total cost).
What Information Do You Need?
Revenue requires a few specific details about each payee: name or company name, business and (if applicable) private address, tax reference number (PPS, VAT, or other), the total amount paid (specifying whether it’s exclusive or inclusive of VAT), and a short description of the service provided. Making sure you have accurate tax reference numbers for each supplier throughout the year saves a scramble at deadline time.
Filing Deadlines
The deadline depends on the type of filer: individuals and partnerships file by 31 October following the end of the tax year, and companies file within 9 months of the end of their accounting period. This is the same rhythm as your other year-end filings, covered in our Revenue Compliance Calendar.
How to File Form 46G
Filing is done through the Revenue Online Service (ROS), with a few options depending on volume: an online form for smaller numbers of suppliers, an offline tool for larger volumes, and an Excel-based bulk upload tool. If you use accounting software, some platforms can export data into a format suitable for upload. We can help streamline this so it integrates smoothly with ROS.
What Happens If You Don’t File?
Many businesses underestimate the risks of ignoring this form. Not filing, filing late, or submitting incomplete information can lead to financial penalties; Revenue can also hold back refunds until your Form 46G is up to date. Without a current tax clearance certificate, you may struggle to apply for government grants, tender for public contracts, or secure loans, a genuine risk if you’re mid-application for something time-sensitive. Missing filings can also trigger compliance checks or audits, adding stress and extra admin.
Why Does Revenue Require It?
It can feel like extra red tape, but Revenue has clear reasons: tracking service income by cross-checking payments you report against income service providers declare, closing the tax gap by identifying sectors where income may be under-reported, supporting more efficient processing of refunds and certificates, and fairness, making sure businesses that report correctly aren’t undercut by those hiding income. In short, Form 46G helps Revenue maintain a fairer tax system, not just penalise businesses.
How We Can Help
We review your payments and identify which ones need reporting, gather the correct details (including tax reference numbers) from suppliers, prepare and file the return on time, and put systems in place so the process is quick and easy every year. Our goal is to keep you compliant, confident, and free to focus on growing your business.
Final Thoughts
Form 46G is easy to overlook, but the consequences of missing it, from penalties to delayed tax clearance, are real. With a bit of structure, it becomes a routine part of your year-end process rather than a scramble.