Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 section 31E

Stamp duty on certain acquisitions of residential property

Section 31E imposes a higher rate of stamp duty on the bulk acquisition of residential units, applying where 10 or more units are acquired directly or indirectly within any rolling 12-month period.

• A 15 per cent stamp duty rate (increased from 10 per cent on 2 October 2024) applies to each residential unit where the acquirer (together with connected persons) acquires 10 or more residential units within a 12-month window; apartments are excluded from the charge.
• Indirect acquisitions through companies, Irish Real Estate Funds (IREFs) and partnerships are caught where a transfer of shares, units or partnership interests derives value from residential property and results in a change of control over the underlying units.
• Units acquired for social housing under the mortgage-to-rent scheme, acquisitions by home reversion firms under home reversion agreements, and certain transfers by NAMA to the Land Development Agency are excluded from the 15 per cent rate.
• Transitional provisions protect acquisitions under binding contracts entered into before 20 May 2021 (provided they completed before 20 August 2021), and any unpaid stamp duty, interest or penalties remain a charge on the residential unit until paid in full.

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