New Tax Bands

and the working population will end up paying for it.

If the Government waits until October to formally announce this, then it will be very difficult for payroll software developers to implement it in time for 1 Jan 2023.

The tax bands are central to any payroll system and effect pretty much everything.

This, as well as statutory sick pay, auto-enrolment and gender reporting, will be a crazy work load.

Maybe adjusting the existing USC bands and standard rate cut off point could have the same effect - without the upheaval.

Payroll software providers im sure would get it well flagged if there was to be such a change. Just because something isn't formally announced doesn't mean work is not being to be ready

No, that has never and will never happen. The budget is not finalised that far in advance and they already have enough problems with it leaking.

Always been a rush for software providers (not just payroll - POS, medical billing, accountancy, anything affected by tax, state contributions etc) to update stuff for new tax year rules. In the days when the budget was in December and changes were applying January 1 it could be absolute mayhem.

This brings back some memories/nightmares! 2008/2009 in particular with the income levy/Pension levy/emergency budget etc.... Everyone in working until 2am to try and get a release out. Nightmare stuff.

Varadkar will get it through other taxes. Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) for example. You're not going to believe it's almost €4,000 VRT to import a 2017 Volkswagen Golf into Ireland.

The impending auto-enrollment of workers into a private pension will wipe out any gains. If the Government tries to auto-enroll me into a pension, I will opt out (you will only have 6 months to opt out).