Personal investment
Where €1 can go in Ireland, ranked by what is left after tax. Thirty-two options across the State-backed and private sectors, current at 13 October 2026.
How long is the money invested for?
The horizon rules out anything that locks capital for longer than you have.
Timeframe
How much investment risk is acceptable?
Everything at or below the level you pick is shown. 1 is cash, 5 includes options that can lose everything.
Risk
Anything else that narrows it
Your marginal rate decides the net return on anything taxed as income (bond coupons, rent and private credit).
Refinements
What fits those answers
Results
14 of 32 options fit, ranked by return after Irish tax on €100,000 over 10 years. Every one is open to an Irish resident, and each links to where you go for it: the provider itself, or the Irish regulator where a category covers several. The ranking is arithmetic, not a recommendation, and the top line is often the riskier one.
- 01
Unit-linked life assurance fund (Zurich, Irish Life, New Ireland)
PrivateEquitiesRisk 3/53.58%a year, after Irish tax- Gross return
- 4.00% to 7.00%
- Tax treatment
- Exit tax 35% + 1% levy (35% effective)
- Access
- Usually a 5-year exit penalty
- Minimum / cap
- €5,000 · None
- Value after 10 years, at the mid of the range
- €142,085 · +€42,085
- After 2% inflation
- 1.58% a year
Simple, advised and well diversified, and expensive. A 1% government levy on the way in, typically 1% to 1.75% annual management charge, plus 35% exit tax and the deemed disposal. Convenience has a real price here.
CCPC: investments(opens in a new tab) - 02
State Savings: 10-Year National Solidarity Bond
Public / StateCash / fixed termRisk 1/5State-guaranteed in full2.66%a year, after Irish tax- Gross return
- 2.66%
- Tax treatment
- Tax-free
- Access
- 10 years
- Minimum / cap
- €50 · €120,000 per person / €240,000 joint
- Value after 10 years, at the mid of the range
- €130,021 · +€30,021
- After 2% inflation
- 0.66% a year
Tax-free, so worth 3.97% gross to a 33% DIRT payer.
The AER rose 0.65 points to 2.66%, the best guaranteed tax-free rate available in Ireland, a 3.97% gross-equivalent. It locks capital for a decade, and an early exit forfeits future interest.
Open on State Savings(opens in a new tab) - 03
State Savings: 6-Year Instalment Savings
Public / StateRegular savingRisk 1/5State-guaranteed in full2.33%a year, after Irish tax- Gross return
- 2.33%
- Tax treatment
- Tax-free
- Access
- 6 years
- Minimum / cap
- €25 · €1,000 per month
- Value after 10 years, at the mid of the range
- €125,901 · +€25,901
- After 2% inflation
- 0.33% a year
Tax-free, so worth 3.48% gross to a 33% DIRT payer.
AER 2.33%, but monthly only at €25 to €1,000, so it cannot absorb a lump sum. Useful for redirecting surplus income rather than for placing capital.
- Takes monthly contributions only, not a lump sum.
- 04
State Savings: 5-Year Savings Certificate
Public / StateCash / fixed termRisk 1/5State-guaranteed in full2.29%a year, after Irish tax- Gross return
- 2.29%
- Tax treatment
- Tax-free
- Access
- 5 years
- Minimum / cap
- €50 · €120,000 per person / €240,000 joint
- Value after 10 years, at the mid of the range
- €125,410 · +€25,410
- After 2% inflation
- 0.29% a year
Tax-free, so worth 3.42% gross to a 33% DIRT payer.
The AER rose 0.55 points to 2.29%. Gross-equivalent 3.42% for a DIRT payer, which beats every taxed Irish deposit, with a full State guarantee and no €100,000 ceiling.
Open on State Savings(opens in a new tab) - 05
EU fixed-term deposit through Raisin
PrivateCash / fixed termRisk 1/5€100k deposit guarantee2.24%a year, after Irish tax- Gross return
- 3.20% to 3.50%
- Tax treatment
- DIRT 33%, self-declared (33% effective)
- Access
- Locked for the term
- Minimum / cap
- €1 · €100,000 deposit guarantee per bank
- Value after 10 years, at the mid of the range
- €124,853 · +€24,853
- After 2% inflation
- 0.24% a year
Best 1-year 3.20% (BluOr, Latvia), 2-year 3.39% (CA Auto Bank, Italy), 3-year 3.35% (Hamburg Commercial Bank, Germany), 5-year 3.50% (Aareal, Germany), at 26 October 2026. Five years pays only 0.3 points more than one. Each bank carries its own national €100,000 guarantee. Net of DIRT, 3.20% becomes 2.14%, less than the tax-free 10-year Solidarity Bond.
CCPC: saving in other EU countries(opens in a new tab) - 06
Corporate / bank senior bonds
PrivateBondsRisk 3/51.99%a year, after Irish tax- Gross return
- 3.50% to 4.80%
- Tax treatment
- Coupon at marginal rate; CGT 31% on gains (52% effective)
- Access
- Daily but thin
- Minimum / cap
- €1,000 · None
- Value after 10 years, at the mid of the range
- €121,804 · +€21,804
- After 2% inflation
- -0.01% a year, losing purchasing power
A higher yield than sovereigns in exchange for credit risk. The coupon is taxed at up to 52%, which makes these poor value outside a pension and much better inside one.
CCPC: investments(opens in a new tab) - 07
State Savings: 3-Year Savings Bond
Public / StateCash / fixed termRisk 1/5State-guaranteed in full1.96%a year, after Irish tax- Gross return
- 1.96%
- Tax treatment
- Tax-free
- Access
- 3 years (7 days' notice, forfeits interest)
- Minimum / cap
- €50 · €120,000 per person / €240,000 joint
- Value after 10 years, at the mid of the range
- €121,422 · +€21,422
- After 2% inflation
- -0.04% a year, losing purchasing power
Tax-free, so worth 2.93% gross to a 33% DIRT payer.
The AER rose 0.64 points to 1.96% on 30 August 2026. Tax-free, so worth 2.93% gross-equivalent to a DIRT payer, and State-guaranteed in full.
Open on State Savings(opens in a new tab) - 08
Euro sovereign / aggregate bond UCITS ETF
Public exposureGovernment bondsRisk 2/51.89%a year, after Irish tax- Gross return
- 2.50% to 3.30%
- Tax treatment
- Exit tax 35% + 8-year deemed disposal (35% effective)
- Access
- Daily
- Minimum / cap
- €1 · None
- Value after 10 years, at the mid of the range
- €120,532 · +€20,532
- After 2% inflation
- -0.11% a year, losing purchasing power
Diversified across euro-area issuers and convenient, but the fund wrapper drags it to 35% exit tax and the deemed-disposal clock applies. Direct bonds or a pension give the same exposure more efficiently.
How ETFs are taxed in Ireland(opens in a new tab) - 09
Instant-access neobank / broker cash (Trading 212, Trade Republic, Revolut)
PrivateCashRisk 1/5€100k deposit guarantee1.88%a year, after Irish tax- Gross return
- 2.50% to 3.11%
- Tax treatment
- DIRT 33%, self-declared (33% effective)
- Access
- Instant
- Minimum / cap
- €1 · €100,000 deposit guarantee per institution
- Value after 10 years, at the mid of the range
- €120,465 · +€20,465
- After 2% inflation
- -0.12% a year, losing purchasing power
Trade Republic 3.04%, Bunq up to 3.11% (conditions apply), Revolut 2.50%, in late October 2026. Interest is paid gross, so you must declare it and pay the 33% yourself. Check whether the cash is held as a deposit (guaranteed) or in a money market fund (not guaranteed, and taxed as a fund).
CCPC: compare savings accounts(opens in a new tab) - 10
Irish Government bonds: direct (10-year)
Public / StateGovernment bondsRisk 2/51.69%a year, after Irish tax- Gross return
- 3.52%
- Tax treatment
- Coupon at marginal rate; gains CGT-exempt (52% effective)
- Access
- Daily, through a broker
- Minimum / cap
- €1,000 · None
- Value after 10 years, at the mid of the range
- €118,240 · +€18,240
- After 2% inflation
- -0.31% a year, losing purchasing power
Yielding 3.52% at 28 October 2026, 0.65 points higher than a year earlier. Gains on Irish government bonds are CGT-exempt, but the coupon is taxed at up to 52%, so a low-coupon bond bought below par is far more tax-efficient than a high-coupon one. The price falls if rates rise.
NTMA: Irish government bonds(opens in a new tab) - 11
Post Office Savings Bank deposit account
Public / StateCashRisk 1/5State-guaranteed in full0.84%a year, after Irish tax- Gross return
- 1.25%
- Tax treatment
- DIRT 33% (33% effective)
- Access
- Instant access
- Minimum / cap
- €50 · €250,000 per person
- Value after 10 years, at the mid of the range
- €108,698 · +€8,698
- After 2% inflation
- -1.16% a year, losing purchasing power
State-guaranteed in full, not just to €100,000. The rate rose from 0.75% to 1.25% on 30 August 2026. The best home for a large emergency buffer that has to be completely safe.
Open on State Savings(opens in a new tab) - 12
Prize Bonds
Public / StateCashRisk 1/5State-guaranteed in full0.75%a year, after Irish tax- Gross return
- 0.00% to 1.50%
- Tax treatment
- Prizes tax-free
- Access
- 90-day minimum, then on demand
- Minimum / cap
- €25 · €250,000 per person / €500,000 joint
- Value after 10 years, at the mid of the range
- €107,758 · +€7,758
- After 2% inflation
- -1.25% a year, losing purchasing power
Tax-free, so worth 1.12% gross to a 33% DIRT payer.
The prize fund rate rose from 1.00% to 1.50% on 1 September 2026, but there is no guaranteed return at all and most holders get well below 1.5%. Capital is fully State-guaranteed. Treat it as safe cash with a lottery ticket attached, not as an investment.
Open Prize Bonds(opens in a new tab) - 13
Irish pillar bank deposit (AIB / Bank of Ireland / PTSB)
PrivateCashRisk 1/5€100k deposit guarantee0.67%a year, after Irish tax- Gross return
- 0.75% to 1.25%
- Tax treatment
- DIRT 33% (33% effective)
- Access
- 7 to 32 days' notice
- Minimum / cap
- €1 · €100,000 deposit guarantee cover
- Value after 10 years, at the mid of the range
- €106,906 · +€6,906
- After 2% inflation
- -1.33% a year, losing purchasing power
AIB 0.75% on 7-day notice, Bank of Ireland 1.00% on 31-day, PTSB 1.25% on 32-day. Several instant-access alternatives pay more than these notice accounts.
CCPC: compare savings accounts(opens in a new tab) - 14
Credit union share / deposit account
Member-ownedCashRisk 1/5€100k deposit guarantee0.35%a year, after Irish tax- Gross return
- 0.05% to 1.00%
- Tax treatment
- DIRT 33% (33% effective)
- Access
- Instant to 30 days
- Minimum / cap
- €5 · Often €40,000 to €100,000
- Value after 10 years, at the mid of the range
- €103,574 · +€3,574
- After 2% inflation
- -1.65% a year, losing purchasing power
Member-owned and covered by the deposit guarantee, but dividends are decided retrospectively and most pay well under 1%. Many cap large balances, so it is not a home for six figures.
Find your credit union(opens in a new tab)
18 options ruled out, and why
- Executive pension / occupational scheme Locks capital for 15 years, beyond a 3 to 10 years horizon.
- PRSA: employer-funded by your company Locks capital for 15 years, beyond a 3 to 10 years horizon.
- AVCs to your existing employer scheme Locks capital for 15 years, beyond a 3 to 10 years horizon.
- Approved Retirement Fund (post-retirement) Locks capital for 15 years, beyond a 3 to 10 years horizon.
- Irish listed equities: direct shares (ISEQ) Risk 4 of 5 is above the level you set.
- Global equity UCITS ETF (all-world accumulating) Risk 4 of 5 is above the level you set.
- Investment trusts (UK / EU closed-ended) Risk 4 of 5 is above the level you set.
- IRES REIT / listed property Risk 4 of 5 is above the level you set.
- Direct buy-to-let residential property Risk 4 of 5 is above the level you set.
- Property inside a self-administered pension Locks capital for 15 years, beyond a 3 to 10 years horizon.
- EIIS fund (Davy/BDO, Goodbody, Cantor, BVP, Quintas, Elkstone) Risk 5 of 5 is above the level you set.
- Angel investment in innovative start-ups Risk 5 of 5 is above the level you set.
- Private equity / venture capital fund Risk 5 of 5 is above the level you set.
- Private credit / direct lending fund Risk 4 of 5 is above the level you set.
- Peer-to-peer property lending (e.g. Property Bridges) Risk 5 of 5 is above the level you set.
- Investing in or expanding your own company Risk 5 of 5 is above the level you set.
- Gold / commodity ETC Risk 4 of 5 is above the level you set.
- Crypto assets Risk 5 of 5 is above the level you set.
Rates, reliefs and thresholds are current at 13 October 2026 and change with each Budget and Finance Act. Deposit, State Savings and bond yields are contractual and quoted as such; every other range is long-run and illustrative, not a forecast, and real outcomes can be negative. This compares the tax treatment of each option; it is not investment advice and does not recommend products. Before committing capital, take advice from an adviser authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Ask a question about the tax sideBudget 2027 cuts exit tax to 35% from 1 January 2027 and announces a new Investment Account from 1 July 2027, which is in the Finance Bill and not yet law. How the Investment Account works Announced in Budget 2027, subject to the Finance Bill (checked 29 October 2026). See what Budget 2027 changes for you →
Content reviewed by Arif Bhuiyan, FCA, ACA, MBA, MSc, and a group of Ireland-based finance professionals who want to make financial literacy easier for people in Ireland.
How you hold an investment decides its tax
Two people can hold the same index of shares and pay tax under different rules: one under capital gains tax, the other under the exit tax that applies to funds. The rate, the deadline, the form and how losses are treated all differ, so start by working out which rules apply.
This page explains how investments are taxed in Ireland. It does not recommend products or tell you where to put your money: for that, speak to an adviser authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Shares held directly
Gains on disposal fall under capital gains tax, with your annual personal exemption and any allowable losses set against them first. Dividends are income, taxed at your marginal rate, with withholding tax credited against the bill.
Funds and ETFs
Irish and EU funds sit outside the CGT rules entirely. They have their own exit tax, charged when you sell and again on a deemed disposal every eight years, even if you have sold nothing.
Deposit interest
Interest from Irish deposit accounts is taxed at source. Interest from an account held abroad is not, so you have to declare it yourself.
Rental income
Rent is assessed as income after allowable expenses, mortgage interest and capital allowances on fittings. A later sale of the property is a separate capital gains event.
Pensions and approved schemes
Contributions get relief at your marginal rate within age-related limits, and the fund grows free of Irish tax until it is drawn down.
Gifts, inheritance and transfers
Passing an asset on is a capital acquisitions tax question for the person receiving it and, often, a capital gains question for the person giving it. The two are assessed separately on the same transaction.
How to work through it
Work out which rules apply
Direct shares, a fund, a pension and a property are each taxed under different rules, and everything else follows from which one applies.
Separate income from gains
Dividends, interest and rent are taxed as they arise. Gains are taxed when you dispose. They have different rates, deadlines and forms.
Apply reliefs and losses
Annual exemptions, carried-forward losses, relief on retiring or transferring a business, and tax already withheld at source all have to be claimed. None of them is applied automatically.
File the right return on time
CGT payment dates don’t line up with the income tax return, and a deemed disposal brings a tax bill with no sale proceeds to pay it from. Check what falls due, and when, before you invest.
Related calculators
The planner compares options. These work out the tax due once you have picked one.
Where these figures come from
Every rate, limit and yield in the planner, with the source it was taken from. All checked at 13 October 2026.
- CGT standard rate 31% from 7 October 2026Revenue: eBrief No. 142/26, Capital Gains Tax rate of charge
- State Savings rates from 30 August 2026NTMA: NTMA to increase Ireland State Savings rates
- State Savings holding limitsIreland State Savings: overall holding limits
- Fixed-term deposit rates, October 2026Ask About Wealth: best fixed-term deposits
- Instant-access savings rates, October 2026Ask About Wealth: best savings accounts
- Irish 10-year government bond yieldTrading Economics: Ireland government bond yield
- Exit tax cut to 35% from 1 January 2027Department of Finance, Budget 2027 Tax Policy Changes, section 2.2
- Exit tax cut to 38%, deemed disposalRevenue: Tax and Duty Manual Part 27-01a-02, Investment Undertakings
- DIRT rate 2026Revenue: What DIRT rate is applicable?
- Revised Entrepreneur Relief, €1.5m limit from 2026Revenue: Revised Entrepreneur Relief
- Standard Fund Threshold, tax-free lump sumRevenue: Form 787S guidance, the Standard Fund Threshold
- Pension age-band limits, €115,000 capRevenue: Tax relief limits on pension contributions
- Employer PRSA contributions capped at 100% of salaryRevenue: Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs)
- EIIS rates, limits and conditionsRevenue: Tax and Duty Manual Part 16-00-02A, Reliefs for Investment in Corporate Trades
- Angel Investor ReliefRevenue: Tax and Duty Manual Part 19-06A-02, Angel Investor Relief
- Rental yields Q2 2026PensionProperty.ie: Irish rental market report Q2 2026
- ISEQ 20 returns, yield and constituentsEuronext: ISEQ 20 index factsheet (31 March 2026)
- Investment Account (announced, in the Finance Bill, not yet law)CCPC, New Investment Account
General information only, current at the date of publication. Rates, thresholds and reliefs change with each Budget and Finance Act, and how they apply depends on your own circumstances. Take advice before you act on any of it.
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