Long-term Land Leasing
Land Leasing is perhaps the most straightforward and widely-used collaborative model in Ireland. In essence, it involves a landowner leasing out land to another farmer for an agreed period and payment. Long-term leasing can provide a steady, tax-efficient income while stepping away from the physical demands of farming. For farmers without access to land, especially young, ambitious individuals, it offers a viable pathway to build a business without the financial burden of land ownership.
The Irish government supports land leasing with tax incentives that reward leasing arrangements that are in excess of five years. These leases can provide significant tax-free income, with tax relief starting at €18,000 per year for a five year lease and rising to €40,000 in the case of a 15+ year lease. There can be current and future tax implications when dealing with land leasing arrangements so it is important that land owners discuss any potential options with a financial or legal advisor before they proceed.
Term of Lease |
Max Tax Free Income/Year |
---|---|
5-7 Years |
€18,000 |
7-10 Years |
€22,500 |
10-15 Years |
€30,000 |
>15 Years |
€40,000 |
Publications | Press Articles and Conference Papers | Taxation
Publications
Guidelines for Long-term Land Leasing – Updated July 2024
Fact Sheet – Long Term Land Leasing (pdf) – updated December 2020
Press Articles and Conference Papers
- Long Term Land Leasing 7 Year Rule April 2024 (pdf)
- Carlow Farm makes rapid progress on Long term leased land (pdf) Todays Farm Jan 2017
- Long-term land leasing makes lots of sense (pdf) – Today’s farm November/December 2019
- Land Leasing T Research Paper Spring 2019 (pdf)
Taxation
Relief for certain income from leasing of farmland 2024 (pdf)
Relief for leases of farmland (pdf)