The phenomenon of the Dublin 4 farmer. And why they’re buying up land for tax reasons

And the impact it is having on Ireland’s farming community

Listen | 22:03
Rules to limit use of relief for tax planning are on the way but have not yet been activated.
Rules to limit use of relief for tax planning are on the way but have not yet been activated.

This week we are looking at the phenomenon of the D4 farmer. Not some wealthy entrepreneur herding cattle in Ballsbridge but wealthy individuals buying up farmland around the country as a wheeze to reduce the inheritance tax bills for their children.

How does the tax break work? What impact will it have on land prices? And is anything being done to change it?

Fiona Reddan of the Irish Times wrote a brilliant article on this last week and she joins host Ciarán Hancock in studio, along with Marty Murphy, who is head of tax at IFAC Ireland, one of the country’s biggest accounting firms with a large number of farmers on its books.

Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound.

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