Artists’ Exemption

Overview

Source: https://www.revenue.ie/en/personal-tax-credits-reliefs-and-exemptions/income-and-employment/artists-exemption/index.aspx

Income you earn from the sale of your artistic works may be exempt from Irish Income Tax (IT) in certain circumstances. 

We may make a determination that certain artistic works are original and creative works generally recognised as having cultural or artistic merit. 

Revenue can make determinations in respect of artistic works in the following categories:

• Books or other forms of writing
• Plays
• Musical compositions
• Paintings or other similar pictures
• Sculptures. 

Guidelines have been drawn up by the Arts Council and by the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. We use these to determine whether a work is original and creative, and whether it is generally recognised as having cultural or artistic merit. We also sometimes consult with other bodies such as The Arts Council in reaching decisions in relation to Artists’ Exemption. 

If we make a determination for a piece of work, you are deemed to have Artists’ Exemption from the year in which the claim is made.  This means that income up to a maximum of €50,000 per annum from these works are exempt from IT.