News

At Hughes & Co we believe that Irish SMEs selling abroad have rarely faced a more unpredictable trading environment. Shifting tariffs, changing trade relationships and volatile currency markets can alter the profitability of an export order almost overnight. While no business can control global trad…

We here at Hughes & Co know that many Irish businesses are built on family effort. Spouses help with the books, children work in the shop during holidays and parents lend a hand when things get busy. Paying family members for this work can be perfectly legitimate and, when handled correctly, tax eff…

At Hughes & Co we believe the Research and Development tax credit is one of the most valuable reliefs available to Irish businesses, yet it remains significantly underclaimed by SMEs. Many owners assume it is reserved for pharmaceutical giants, technology multinationals or companies with laboratorie…

We here at Hughes & Co know that invoice fraud and payment scams have become one of the most serious financial threats facing Irish businesses. Fraudsters are increasingly targeting SMEs, knowing that smaller teams, busy owners and informal processes can make it easier to slip a fake invoice or alte…

At Hughes & Co we believe that e-invoicing will be one of the biggest changes to how Irish businesses handle VAT in a generation. Driven by new EU rules and Revenue’s plans to modernise the VAT system, the way invoices are created, sent and reported is set to change fundamentally over the next few y…

We here at Hughes & Co know that Christmas is a time when many Irish employers want to thank their teams for their hard work throughout the year. The way you reward staff can make a big difference, not just to how the gesture is received but to how much it actually costs your business. Used correctl…

At Hughes & Co we believe that auto-enrolment is one of the most significant changes Irish employers have faced in years. Since the My Future Fund scheme went live on 1 January 2026, employers have been required to deduct pension contributions for eligible staff, add their own contributions and send…

We here at Hughes & Co know that Pay and File is one of the most important dates in the calendar for self-employed people in Ireland. By 31 October 2026, sole traders, partners, landlords and proprietary directors must pay any balance of income tax due for 2025, pay their preliminary tax for 2026 an…

At Hughes & Co we believe that Budget Day should be a planning opportunity rather than a source of uncertainty. When the Minister for Finance stands up in the Dáil on 6 October, the announcements will shape the costs, cash flow and tax position of Irish businesses for the year ahead. For SME owners,…

Here is the article for your accountants’ blog, written in a practical and compelling style for Irish SME business owners.
We here at Hughes & Co understand that winning new customers is often a major focus for Irish SMEs, but retaining existing customers can have an even greater impact on lon…