Estate planning is not just about writing a will. For many individuals, families and businessowners in Ireland, it is about protecting assets, reducing tax exposure, and making sure wealth passes smoothly to the next generation. For an accounting firm, this is a valuable advisory area because many of the biggest estate planning issues are financial: inheritance tax, property values, business succession, and probate readiness.
In Ireland, the main tax to consider is Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT), which applies to gifts and inheritances above the relevant lifetime thresholds. As of 2026, a child can generally receive upto €400,000 tax-free from a parent, while the Group B threshold is about €40,000 and the Group C threshold is about €20,000. Anything above those limits is generally taxed at 33%, which means families with property, savings, investments or business interests can face a significant tax liability without advance planning.
This matters even more because all gifts and inheritances within the same CAT group are aggregated over a beneficiary’s lifetime. A client may assume a future inheritance will fall within the tax-free limit, only to discover that previous gifts have already used part of thethreshold. This is one reason estate planning should be reviewed regularly rather than left untillater life.
There have also been recent developments that make this topic especially timely. The CAT thresholds were increased in late 2024 and remain in place in 2026, but there is growing political pressure to raise them again in Budget 2027 because of higher property values and the increasing tax burden on families. Public proposals discussed in recent reporting include a possible increase of the Group A threshold to €500,000, with corresponding increases for Groups B and C, although no final decision has yet been made. Clients should therefore plan based on current law, while keeping an eye on possible changes that may create extra flexibility in future.
Another important recent update is the modernisation of probate administration. Ireland’s probate process is becoming more digital through the rollout of eProbate and the Courts Service online portal, allowing applications to be filed and tracked electronically. Reports in 2026 indicate that grants of probate are now being issued in roughly 6 to 8 weeks in many cases, compared with much longer delays under the older paper-based system. This is a welcome change for families, but it also means financial records, valuations and estate information need to be accurate and available at the point of application.
For clients, the practical message is simple. A will remains essential, but on its own it is not a full estate plan. Clients should also review asset ownership, potential CAT exposure, business succession arrangements, and whether their family would be able to deal efficiently with probate if something unexpected happened. Business owners in particular should make sure shareholdings, valuations and succession intentions are clearly documented so that a family business can continue smoothly.
This is where an accounting firm can add real value. Accountants can help clients build a clear picture of their assets and liabilities, estimate possible inheritance tax liabilities, and identify areas where early action may reduce future problems. They can also work alongside solicitors and financial advisers to make sure the legal documents match the financial reality. In practice, that means helping clients move from a vague intention to “get things sorted” to a practical and tax-aware estate plan.
For existing and potential clients, the message is not to wait for a life event or a tax change before acting. Estate planning works best when it is done early, reviewed regularly, and updated as family, business and tax circumstances change. With probate becoming more efficient and inheritance tax thresholds under active discussion, 2026 is a sensible time for clients to review their position and make sure their affairs are in order.
