Posts by splash

First-time buyers are taking on more debt in proportion to their incomes than purchasers in the UK for the first time since the Celtic Tiger, according to a report by property website MyHome.ie in association with Bank of Ireland. The average mortgage loan for a house purchase has also exceeded €300,000 for the first time…

The estimated annual salary of a stay-at-home parent has been calculated to be €57,140, according to new research. The analysis was carried out by pension and life insurance provider Royal London Ireland. The salary figure for a stay-at-home parent is up from an estimated €54,590 in 2023 and €40,560 in 2015, when the company first…

For business owners, managing expenses and boosting profitability are constant priorities. However, one powerful tool often overlooked is tax credits. Unlike deductions, which reduce taxable income, tax credits directly lower your tax liability, offering immediate financial benefits. Unfortunately at KAAS, we know that many businesses fail to claim the credits they’re entitled to, leaving valuable…

Irish food, drink and horticulture exports were worth €17 billion last year, according to Bord Bia – a record high. The figure represents a 5% increase on 2023, according to its Exports Performance and Prospects Report for 2024/25. However Bord Bia said higher pricing was the primary driver of export value growth last year, with…

Euro zone inflation accelerated in December, an unwelcome but anticipated blip that is unlikely to derail further interest rate cuts from the European Central Bank. Inflation in the 20 nations sharing the euro picked up to 2.4% last month from 2.2% in November, Eurostat said today, in line with expectations in a Reuters poll of…

The average price of a second hand home rose by 8.4% last year, almost double the rate of growth witnessed in 2023, the latest residential market review and outlook from property advisors DNG shows. The latest DNG National Price Gauge (NPG) shows the annual rate of price growth nationwide strengthened in the second half of…

In today’s fast-paced business environment, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly vulnerable to financial crime. One of the most significant risks is money laundering, where illicit funds are disguised as legitimate income. At KAAS, we know that understanding and implementing Anti-Money Laundering (AML) practices is no longer optional; it is essential for safeguarding your…

Corporation tax increased by 18% last year to €28bn, according to the latest Exchequer Returns from the Department of Finance. When €11bn, which has been raised so far from the Apple tax case, is included in corporation tax figures the total was €39.1bn. But the Department of Finance has warned that Ireland can not continue…

The services sector activity expanded slightly slower in December but growth in new business hit its fastest pace since March and optimism for the coming 12 months improved, a survey showed today. The AIB Global S&P Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) slipped to 57.1 in December from 58.3 in November, but remained well above the 50…

The euro zone economy ended 2024 in a fragile state, according a survey which showed overall activity contracted for a second month in a row December as a modest recovery in the services industry failed to offset a deeper downturn in manufacturing. HCOB’s final composite Purchasing Managers’ Index for the bloc, compiled by S&P Global…