Legal

Couples divorcing should be spared penal Vat charges, McGrath told

The Irish Professional Mediators Organisation has written to the Finance Minister proposing that, as divorce is so costly, the Vat rate on families’ legal and mediation fees should be reduced to 9 per cent or less

Michael McGrath, Minister for Finance: mediators have written to him to request a lowering of the Vat rate for family mediation and family law services. Picture: Collins

Couples going through a divorce should be spared paying 23 per cent VAT rate on their legal and mediation fees, the Minister for Finance has been told.

The Irish Professional Mediators Organisation (IPMO), which represents nearly 70 mediators, wrote to Michael McGrath on Friday, proposing that the higher Vat rate charged should be reduced to 9 per cent or less.

A number of family lawyers have also told this newspaper a reduced Vat rate would ...