Section 195 of the Irish Tax Consolidation Act, 1997 allows the Irish Revenue Commissioners to make a determination that certain artistic works are original and creative works generally recognized as having cultural or artistic merit. Once such a determination is made, earnings derived from these works are exempt from income tax. Classes of works that may benefit from the exemption include
- Books or other forms of writing;
- Plays;
- Musical compositions;
- Paintings or other similar pictures;
- Sculptures.
However, there are exceptions, for example textbooks and professional works, advertising jingles, and essentially functional works. Not surprisingly, a larger number of popular writers and composers have established a residence in Ireland.