Independent, fact-checked analysis. Tax rules and data updated for April 2026.
Long-form, Irish-specific guides on the things you can't find anywhere else: how the 38% Exit Tax actually compounds, why a self-directed PRSA can be worth €400,000 over 30 years, when Trading 212's tax report is enough vs when you need IBKR. Written for an Irish investor, not translated from a US blog.
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CSPX charges 0.07% inside the fund — same on every broker. What changes is the friction outside it. We rank DEGIRO, Trading 212, IBKR, Lightyear and XTB on a real €500/month buy, with an interactive calculator for your own numbers.
Read guideThe actual steps to buy the iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF (CSPX, ISIN IE00B5BMR087) from Ireland — broker pick, account opening, EUR deposit, finding the right CSPX listing on each platform, placing the buy. Specific to every Ireland-accessible broker.
Read guideIBKR Ireland is CBI-regulated, has the lowest FX rate in the market (~0.002%), gives the most granular per-disposal Activity Statement of any broker (a global FIFO report you adapt onto Form 11 — not an Irish-specific one), and offers virtually every UCITS ETF. The platform is overkill for many. Detailed review with real-money cost comparison.
Read guideIreland is the only major Western European country without a tax-advantaged retail savings account. The Funds Sector 2030 report recommended one. What an Irish ISA might look like, when it might arrive, and what to do meanwhile.
Read guideThe top-performing UCITS ETFs Irish investors can buy over 5 and 10 years — plus the academic evidence that buying last year's winner is the most reliable way to underperform. Why Irish Exit Tax makes it especially costly.
Read guideWhen an Irish ETF investor dies, Revenue takes 38% Exit Tax on the deemed disposal first, then 33% CAT applies on top. Worked examples up to €1m, the spouse exemption, and the planning levers that actually work.
Read guideSame €500/month, same global ETF, same 30 years — held in a brokerage account vs a Self-Directed PRSA. The after-tax outcome differs by ~€400,000. Worked numbers and when the brokerage account still wins.
Read guideUnder Ireland's 38% Exit Tax regime, accumulating ETFs are almost always the more tax-efficient choice. Worked numbers, the deferred-tax compounding effect, and when distributing still wins.
Read guideWhat is and is not available on Revolut Invest in Ireland, how gains are taxed under Irish law (CGT vs Exit Tax), why direct US stock dividends are tax-inefficient, and when to switch to a proper UCITS broker.
Read guideThe Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF (ISIN IE00BK5BQT80) explained for Irish investors — what it is, how it is taxed under the new 38% exit tax, where to buy it, and how it compares to IWDA + EIMI.
Read guideBudget 2026 cut Irish exit tax from 41% to 38% from 1 January 2026 — but kept the 8-year deemed disposal rule. Worked examples, what it means for your portfolio, and what to expect next.
Read guideThe single most misunderstood aspect of ETF investing in Ireland. We walk through exactly how deemed disposal works, with real numbers and worked examples.
Read guideTwo popular approaches to global equity investing — one fund vs two. We compare fees, simplicity, emerging market exposure, and practical considerations for Irish investors.
Read guideThree years after Trading 212 launched in Ireland, and two years after Lightyear arrived, DEGIRO retains a strong position. We examine why — and when the newer platforms win.
Read guideStep-by-step instructions for opening a self-directed PRSA in Ireland, choosing an ETF portfolio inside it, and maximising your tax relief.
Read guideWhy you should own CSPX or SPYL rather than SPY or VOO — and how the 15% withholding tax rate for Irish-domiciled funds adds up to real money over time.
Read guideDo you invest a windfall all at once, or spread it out? The evidence, the psychology, and the practical Irish angle — including how different strategies interact with the deemed disposal rule.
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