Who is liable?
The Finance Act 1999 introduced a withholding tax to apply to dividends paid by Irish companies on or after 6 April 1999.
Irish Life & Permanent plc is therefore obliged to deduct DWT at the standard rate of income tax (currently 20%) from dividends paid on or after that date.
Irish resident shareholders are subject to DWT. However, certain other categories of shareholders are entitled to receive their dividends without deduction of DWT.
The following categories of Irish resident shareholders are entitled to claim exemption from DWT:
1) a company which is resident in Ireland for tax purposes;
2) an Irish exempt approved pension scheme;
3) an Irish collective investment undertaking;
4) an employee share ownership trust;
5) an exempt charity resident in Ireland.
Exemption from DWT may be claimed by submitting a completed Composite Resident Form, which may be obtained from the Company’s Registrar.
Exemptions available to non-resident shareholders.
Shareholders resident for tax purposes in a member state of the European Union (excluding Ireland) or in a country with which Ireland has concluded a double taxation agreement are entitled to claim exemption from DWT.
DWT will be applied to all dividends payable to non-resident shareholders on or after 6 April 2000 unless a completed Composite Non-Resident Form making a valid declaration is received by the Company’s Registrar.
Tax reclaims
If DWT is deducted and a shareholder feels that they may be entitled to a refund, they should contact their local tax office if an Irish resident, or the International Claims Section, Revenue Commissioners, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary (if a non-resident). Telephone +353-61-33533
Annual & Interim Reports 
