Study For Tax In Your Coffee Break

Thank you to Amicus: Search and Recruitment for Sponsoring this episode. To find your next Finance or Accounting Role, head to https://amicus.ie/ and tell them that we sent you!

Today we're looking at the examining team’s feedback from the June 2026 ATX exam sitting and, as always, there are plenty of lessons we can take from it for future exams.

We’ll look at where students performed well, where marks were being left behind, and why question practice is about much more than simply knowing the tax rules. There’s a particular focus this time on professional marks, commercial acumen and scepticism, as well as some very familiar problem areas including relief conditions, close companies, pensions and ethics.

The big message from the examiner is a simple one: know your conditions properly, read the scenario carefully, and practise past questions under exam conditions. And please, make sure you’re using the ACCA-approved Advanced Tax material when you’re preparing for this exam.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

• IRL June 2026 Examiner's Report (ACCAGlobal.com)
• Ep040 on Ethics (Spotify)

Thank you for listening to Study For Tax in your Coffee Break! If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to leave a rating and review on your Podcast platform and share it with others to let them know you enjoyed the podcast.

To improve your study for the ACCA ATX Exams this year, head to Paula Byrne's website to purchase the Tax Conditions - the Spoken Word for audio-based revision (updated for 2026).

Thank you to Matthew Bliss for editing and production of this episode. If you'd like him to edit your podcast, send an email to [email protected] or head to https://www.mbpod.com/.

Chapters:

• (00:00) Intro to June 2026 ATX Examiner Feedback
• (01:40) A Self-Study Success Story
• (03:41) Professional Marks, Scepticism & Commercial Acumen
• (04:45) Question 1: Liquidation, Reliefs & VAT
• (07:52) Balancing Charges & Liquidation Calculations
• (10:43) Entrepreneur Relief & Commercial Advice
• (11:55) Pension Drawdown & PRSA Mistakes
• (13:19) Ethics, Confidentiality & Revenue Refunds
• (14:40) Question 2: CAT, CGT & Stamp Duty
• (17:04) Non-Tax Issues & Scepticism Marks
• (19:43) Question 3: Close Companies
• (22:32) Final Lessons from the Examiner

Mentioned in this episode:

Get your Audio Revision for the 2026 ACCA Exams

Thank you to Amicus: Search and Recruitment for Sponsoring this episode. To find your next Finance or Accounting Role, head to https://amicus.ie/ and tell them that we sent you!

In this episode, I’m joined by Andrea Stanley, who recently completed her ACCA exams after a journey that included failed exams, knocks to her confidence and some very real anxiety around sitting them.

Andrea very generously shares what that experience was like, why exam technique and time management became so important for her, and how working on her mindset helped her move away from constantly expecting to fail.

We also talk about the support she received along the way, the value of doing mocks under proper time pressure, taking breaks instead of studying yourself into the ground, and why a failed exam absolutely does not mean you won’t get there.

It gets a little emotional towards the end — but I think Andrea’s story will be a very useful listen for anyone whose confidence has taken a knock during their ACCA journey.

And most importantly: if you’ve had a setback, keep going. Andrea did, and she got there.

Thank you for listening to Study For Tax in your Coffee Break! If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to leave a rating and review on your Podcast platform and share it with others to let them know you enjoyed the podcast.

To improve your study for the ACCA ATX Exams this year, head to Paula Byrne's website to purchase the Tax Conditions - the Spoken Word for audio-based revision (updated for 2026).

Thank you to Matthew Bliss for editing and production of this episode. If you'd like him to edit your podcast, send an email to [email protected] or head to https://www.mbpod.com/.

Chapters:

• (00:00) Sponsor: Amicus Search and Recruitment
• (00:27) Andrea’s ACCA Journey
• (01:33) Exam Setbacks and Losing Confidence
• (02:19) Time Management and Exam Technique
• (03:09) When Everyone Believes in You Except You
• (04:03) How Mindset Coaching Helped
• (05:26) Becoming a Fully Qualified ACCA Accountant
• (06:29) Advice for Students Dealing With Anxiety
• (06:44) Taking Breaks and Practising Under Time Pressure
• (07:10) Learning to Rise After Failure
• (07:39) An Emotional End to Andrea’s Story

Mentioned in this episode:

Get your Audio Revision for the 2026 ACCA Exams

Thank you to Amicus: Search and Recruitment for Sponsoring this episode. To find your next Finance or Accounting Role, head to https://amicus.ie/ and tell them that we sent you!

In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Ben Wilson, AAA and SBL tutor, to talk about his ADHD diagnosis and the difference it has made to how he understands himself, his work and his students.

Ben shares what it was like to be diagnosed in his early 40s, how interest, motivation and dopamine affect the way he learns, and why forcing yourself through seven-hour study sessions may not be the best approach. We also discuss short study bursts, rewards, flexible learning and the importance of finding a tutor who can actually bring a subject to life.

It’s a very honest, practical and entertaining conversation about understanding how your own brain works, and using that knowledge to make studying, working and everyday life a little easier.

Thank you for listening to Study For Tax in your Coffee Break! If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to leave a rating and review on your Podcast platform and share it with others to let them know you enjoyed the podcast.

To improve your study for the ACCA ATX Exams this year, head to Paula Byrne's website to purchase the Tax Conditions - the Spoken Word for audio-based revision (updated for 2026).

Thank you to Matthew Bliss for editing and production of this episode. If you'd like him to edit your podcast, send an email to [email protected] or head to https://www.mbpod.com/.

Thank you to Amicus: Search and Recruitment for Sponsoring this episode. To find your next Finance or Accounting Role, head to https://amicus.ie/ and tell them that we sent you!

In this bite-sized episode of Study for Tax in your Coffee Break, I’m revisiting CGT Offset - a topic that often appears in exam questions and can easily catch students out on the details.

We walk through how CGT Offset works when a disponer pays Capital Gains Tax and the beneficiary has a CAT liability, along with the key rule that the offset only applies to the same transaction. I also explain why one beneficiary can’t use CGT paid on a different gift or inheritance, how the relief is capped at the CAT liability, and the important two-year clawback rule that students need to remember for exams.

If you’re preparing for tax exams and want a quick refresher on CGT offset in a clear and practical way, this episode is for you.

Main Topics Discussed in this Episode:

1. What CGT offset is and when it applies
2. The relationship between CGT and CAT liabilities
3. Why the offset only applies to the same transaction
4. Limits on claiming CGT offset
5. The two-year clawback rule

Thank you for listening to Study For Tax in your Coffee Break! If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to leave a rating and review on your Podcast platform and share it with others to let them know you enjoyed the podcast.

To improve your study for the ACCA ATX Exams this year, head to Paula Byrne's website to purchase the Tax Conditions - the Spoken Word for audio-based revision (updated for 2026).

Thank you to Matthew Bliss for editing and production of this episode. If you'd like him to edit your podcast, send an email to [email protected] or head to https://www.mbpod.com/.

Mentioned in this episode:

Get your Audio Revision for the 2026 ACCA Exams

Thank you to Amicus: Search and Recruitment for Sponsoring this episode. To find your next Finance or Accounting Role, head to https://amicus.ie/ and tell them that we sent you!

In this episode of Study For Tax in your Coffee Break, I’m revisiting retirement relief and marginal relief with an updated explanation for 2026. This is an area that causes a lot of confusion for students, particularly when it comes to disposal proceeds limits and how the rules differ depending on whether a business is transferred to a child or to a third party.

We walk through the key retirement relief thresholds, including the €10 million and €3 million limits for transfers to children, and the much lower limits that apply to third-party disposals. I also explain why marginal relief only applies in very specific circumstances, how the calculation works in practice, and why entrepreneur relief has made marginal relief less common in real-life scenarios.

If retirement relief has ever felt confusing, this episode breaks it down step-by-step in a practical and exam-focused way.

Main Topics Covered in this Episode:

1. What retirement relief is and when it applies
2. Transfers to children versus third parties
3. Disposal proceeds limits for 2026
4. The €10 million and €3 million thresholds & the €750,000 and €500,000 third-party limits
5. Why failing one condition disqualifies retirement relief
6. How marginal relief is calculated

Thank you for listening to Study For Tax in your Coffee Break! If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to leave a rating and review on your Podcast platform and share it with others to let them know you enjoyed the podcast.

To improve your study for the ACCA ATX Exams this year, head to Paula Byrne's website to purchase the Tax Conditions - the Spoken Word for audio-based revision (updated for 2026).

Thank you to Matthew Bliss for editing and production of this episode. If you'd like him to edit your podcast, send an email to [email protected] or head to https://www.mbpod.com/.

Mentioned in this episode:

Get your Audio Revision for the 2026 ACCA Exams

Thank you to Amicus: Search and Recruitment for Sponsoring this episode. To find your next Finance or Accounting Role, head to https://amicus.ie/ and tell them that we sent you!

In this episode, I’m bringing you an updated run-through of Employee Share Schemes. And trust me, this is one of those topics where learning the rules properly can really pay off in the exam.

I go through each of the examinable schemes on your syllabus (unapproved share options, restricted shares, SAYE, approved profit sharing, and KEEP) and explain what the examiner is likely looking for. We also look at when schemes have to be offered to all employees which is a favourite exam angle.

Most importantly I break down the tax treatment, when income tax, USC and PRSI apply, when they don’t, and how you can reduce the liability (hello restricted shares and clogged periods). If you get comfortable with this, you’re in a really strong position to pick up solid marks.

Main Topics Covered in this Episode:

1. Overview of Employee Share Schemes: A practical walkthrough of the main examinable share schemes and why employers use them as part of employee rewards.
2. Types of Share Schemes on the Syllabus: Explanation of unapproved share options, restricted shares, SAYE, approved profit sharing schemes, and KEEP, including how each one works.
3. Eligibility and Availability Rules: Clarifying which schemes must be offered to all employees and where employers can selectively reward key individuals.
4. Income Tax, USC, and PRSI Treatment: A breakdown of when tax liabilities arise for employees, particularly on grant and exercise of share options.
5. Capital Gains Tax and Tax Planning Strategies: How CGT applies on disposal of shares and the role of restricted shares (clogged periods) in reducing initial tax liabilities.

Thank you for listening to Study For Tax in your Coffee Break! If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to leave a rating and review on your Podcast platform and share it with others to let them know you enjoyed the podcast.

To improve your study for the ACCA ATX Exams this year, head to Paula Byrne's website to purchase the Tax Conditions - the Spoken Word for audio-based revision (updated for 2026).

Thank you to Matthew Bliss for editing and production of this episode. If you'd like him to edit your podcast, send an email to [email protected] or head to https://www.mbpod.com/.

Mentioned in this episode:

Get your Audio Revision for the 2026 ACCA Exams

Thank you to Amicus: Search and Recruitment for Sponsoring this episode. To find your next Finance or Accounting Role, head to https://amicus.ie/ and tell them that we sent you!

In this episode, I’m revisiting Research & Development (R&D) Tax Relief for Limited Companies in Ireland, because there’s been a very welcome change - the credit has increased from 25% to 30%. Not a nuisance at all when you think about it!

I walk through the key conditions companies need to meet to claim the R&D tax credit, including where the R&D must take place, the types of activities that qualify, and the deadline for submitting a claim. I also explain how the refund mechanism works over the three-year period, which is particularly helpful for companies that may be loss-making and looking for cash flow support.

We also look at what types of costs qualify, including salaries, overheads, plant and machinery, and even buildings used for R&D — along with the important conditions and potential clawbacks to watch out for. Finally, I cover the rules around surrendering the R&D tax credit to key employees, including the eligibility conditions and the minimum effective tax rate requirement.

What you'll hear in this Episode:

1. Overview of the 30% R&D Tax Credit: The increase in the Research & Development tax credit from 25% to 30% and why this change is a positive development for qualifying limited companies in Ireland.
2. Eligibility Conditions for Claiming R&D Relief: The key requirements companies must meet to claim the relief, including being within the charge to Irish corporation tax and carrying out qualifying R&D activities in Ireland, the EU, EEA, or the UK.
3. How the R&D Tax Credit Is Refunded or Offset: The simplified repayment mechanism, explaining how companies can offset the credit against corporation tax or receive it in refundable instalments over a three-year period.
4. Qualifying R&D Expenditure and Assets: The types of costs that qualify for the credit, including salaries, overheads, plant and machinery, and certain buildings used for R&D activities.
5. Surrendering the R&D Tax Credit to Key Employees: How companies can pass part of the tax credit to key employees working in R&D and the strict conditions that must be met, including time spent on R&D and maintaining a minimum effective tax rate of 23%.

Thank you for listening to Study For Tax in your Coffee Break! If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to leave a rating and review on your Podcast platform and share it with others to let them know you enjoyed the podcast.

To improve your study for the ACCA ATX Exams this year, head to Paula Byrne's website to purchase the Tax Conditions - the Spoken Word for audio-based revision (updated for 2026).

Thank you to Matthew Bliss for editing and production of this episode. If you'd like him to edit your podcast, send an email to [email protected] or head to https://www.mbpod.com/.

Mentioned in this episode:

Get your Audio Revision for the 2026 ACCA Exams

Thank you to Amicus: Search and Recruitment for Sponsoring this episode. To find your next Finance or Accounting Role, head to https://amicus.ie/ and tell them that we sent you!

In this episode of Study for Tax in Your Coffee Break, I’m going through the December 2025 ACCA Irish Advanced Tax Examiner’s Report — and honestly, it’s gold dust. The examiner has given us a clear window into what went well, what didn’t, and where valuable marks were left behind. Whether you’re preparing for your first sitting or reflecting on a recent attempt, this report is packed with insight that you simply cannot afford to ignore.

We walk through all three questions on the paper, including the 50-mark Question 1 with its mix of ethics, financial distress, share disposals and PRSA contributions. I highlight where students slipped up — from VAT on property (you know he loves it!) to gift splitting rules and, most importantly, failing to read the requirements properly. We also unpack Question 2’s specified intangible assets and permanent establishment issues, and Question 3’s termination payments, FED relief and close company transactions with a strong focus on the examiner’s repeated message: "know your conditions and know how to apply them!"

A major theme throughout this paper was professional marks — commercial acumen, skepticism, and real-world thinking. The examiner has clearly raised the bar here, and I share practical advice on how you can prepare for that. If you’re serious about passing this exam, this episode will help you understand exactly what the marking team is looking for — and how to avoid a “bloodbath” in the next sitting.

Resources mentioned in this Episode:

1. December 2025 ACCA Irish Advanced Tax Examiner’s Report
2. ACCA ATX Examiner's Reports Portal
3. "Ep040 Ethics"

Thank you for listening to Study For Tax in your Coffee Break! If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to leave a rating and review on your Podcast platform and share it with others to let them know you enjoyed the podcast.

To improve your study for the ACCA ATX Exams this year, head to Paula Byrne's website to purchase the ACCA ATX IRL Revision Book for Exams in 2025 and Tax Conditions - the Spoken Word for audio-based revision.

Thank you to Matthew Bliss for editing and production of this episode. If you'd like him to edit your podcast, send an email to [email protected] or head to https://www.mbpod.com/.

Mentioned in this episode:

Get your Audio Revision for the 2026 ACCA Exams

Thank you to Amicus: Search and Recruitment for Sponsoring this episode. To find your next Finance or Accounting Role, head to https://amicus.ie/ and tell them that we sent you!

In this episode, we're talking through a brand new CGT relief introduced by the Finance Act 2024: the Relief for Investment in Innovative Enterprises, more commonly known as Angel Investor Relief. It’s an interesting and welcome relief that’s designed to help innovative Irish startups access early-stage funding while rewarding investors with a reduced CGT rate.

There's a number of qualifications, conditions and interactions of this relief with others that may preclude certain other available reliefs, so make sure to listen carefully in the case that it becomes an examinable relief!

Main Topics Discussed in this Episode:

1. Overview of Angel Investor Relief: What it is, why it was introduced, and how it reduces CGT for qualifying investors.
2. Who Can Qualify as an Investor: The key conditions an individual investor must meet, including shareholding limits, minimum holding periods, and connection rules.
3. What Makes a Company “Qualifying”: The importance of the certificate of qualification, what Revenue looks for, and why commercial innovation and going-concern status matter.
4. Eligible Shares and Investment Conditions: What counts as eligible shares, why cash investment is required, and why buying existing shares won’t qualify for the relief.
5. Interaction with Other Tax Reliefs: How Angel Investor Relief interacts with EIIS, Entrepreneur Relief, and Retirement Relief, highlighting why choosing the right relief can make a significant tax difference.

*****

Thank you for listening to Study For Tax in your Coffee Break! If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to leave a rating and review on your Podcast platform and share it with others to let them know you enjoyed the podcast.

To improve your study for the ACCA ATX Exams this year, head to Paula Byrne's website to purchase the ACCA ATX IRL Revision Book for Exams in 2025 and Tax Conditions - the Spoken Word for audio-based revision.

Thank you to Matthew Bliss for editing and production of this episode. If you'd like him to edit your podcast, send an email to [email protected] or head to https://www.mbpod.com/.

Mentioned in this episode:

Get your Audio Revision for the 2026 ACCA Exams

Thank you to Amicus: Search and Recruitment for Sponsoring this episode. To find your next Finance or Accounting Role, head to https://amicus.ie/ and tell them that we sent you!

In this very special (and slightly self-indulgent!) episode of Study for Tax in Your Coffee Break, I’m delighted to catch up with one of my favourite ex-students of all time, John Lyons: now officially Mr ACCA. After a semester without his questions, comments and general banter, I couldn’t resist inviting him back for a chat… and I’m so glad I did.

John shares his brilliant (and very real) story of taking the long road to qualification. Starting with Accounting Technician exams, stepping up to ACCA, navigating setbacks, life “hiccups”, and still coming back stronger every time.

We talk honestly about what it’s like to study later in life when work, family, and responsibilities are all competing for your attention, and why comparison is a trap. John’s mindset of “running your own race” is one I think every student needs to hear.

We also dig into why Irish tax is such a valuable subject in the real world (even if some of the syllabus bits make you roll your eyes!), how employers view it, and why effort from week one matters more than most people want to admit.

Main Topics Discussed in this Episode:

1. John’s non-traditional journey into accounting, moving from electrician to ACCA through the Accounting Technician route after a career-changing injury.
2. The realities of studying for professional exams later in life, including balancing work, family responsibilities, and maintaining focus and motivation.
3. Why persistence matters more than natural ability, with honest reflections on failing exams, building resilience, and “running your own race.”
4. The practical value of Irish tax in everyday life and why it remains one of the most employable and relevant specialisms for accountants.
5. The importance of consistent effort, student engagement, and using available supports from the very start of the course to give yourself the best chance of passing.

Get in touch with John Lyons:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-lyons-acca-cat-3bb54474/

AB Magazine's "The View with John Lyons" article

*****

Thank you for listening to Study For Tax in your Coffee Break! If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to leave a rating and review on your Podcast platform and share it with others to let them know you enjoyed the podcast.

To improve your study for the ACCA ATX Exams this year, head to Paula Byrne's website to purchase the ACCA ATX IRL Revision Book for Exams in 2025 and Tax Conditions - the Spoken Word for audio-based revision.

Thank you to Matthew Bliss for editing and production of this episode. If you'd like him to edit your podcast, send an email to [email protected] or head to https://www.mbpod.com/.

Mentioned in this episode:

Get your Audio Revision for the 2026 ACCA Exams