Central Bank Act 1942 (Section 32D) Regulations 2025.

S.I. No. 358/2025 - Central Bank Act 1942 (Section 32D) Regulations 2025 Download PDF Íoslódáil PDF Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in “Iris Oifigiúil” of 25 th July, 2025. In the exercise of the powers conferred on the Central Bank of Ireland (the “Bank”) by section 32D of the Central Bank Act 1942 (No. 22 of 1942) the Central Bank Commission, with the approval of the Minister for Finance, hereby makes the following regulations: 1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Central Bank Act 1942 (Section 32D) Regulations 2025. (2) These Regulations come into operation on 25 July 2025. 2. In these Regulations: “authorisation” means an authorisation, licence, approval or any other permission and includes registration; “Bank” means Central Bank of Ireland; “Client Asset Requirements” means the requirements imposed on regulated financial service providers pursuant to the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2013 (Section 48(1)) (Investment Firms) Regulations 2017 [ S.I. No. 604 of 2017 ] or pursuant to any amending or replacing legislation; “due date” means (a) the day that falls 28 days after the date of the levy notice or, (b) the date referred to in Regulation 7 or, (c) the date identified by the Bank following consideration of an appeal; “levy contribution” means the amount determined by the Bank as being due and owing by a regulated entity in respect of each authorisation held during the levy period, or the subsequent levy period and which is calculated in accordance with the Schedule to these Regulations or further regulations made under section 32D of the Principal Act, as applicable; “levy notice” means a notice sent by the Bank to a regulated entity specifying one or more levy contributions and/or supplementary levy contributions in respect of each authorisation held by the regulated entity; “levy period” means the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024; “Principal Act” means the Central Bank Act 1942 (No. 22 of 1942); “relevant levy period” means the levy period or subsequent levy period, whichever is applicable in the particular context; “subsequent levy period” means the period from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025 inclusive; “supplementary levy contribution” means any supplementary levy determined by the Bank as being due and owing by a regulated entity in respect of an authorisation held during the levy period, or the subsequent levy period, in addition to the levy contribution, and which is calculated in accordance with the Schedule to these Regulations or further regulations made under section 32D of the Principal Act, as applicable. 3. (1) All regulated entities are liable to pay to the Bank a levy contribution in respect of each authorisation and, where applicable in accordance with the Schedule, one or more supplementary levy contributions in respect of each authorisation held during a relevant levy period on or before the due date. (2) Where a regulated entity is subject to regulation by the Bank for part of the levy period only, (a) the levy contributions shall be calculated in accordance with the Schedule in respect of the number of days of the levy period during which the entity was regulated, and; (b) any supplementary levy contributions shall be applied in accordance with the Schedule. (3) Where a regulated entity ceases to be subject to regulation by the Bank during the subsequent levy period, and no Regulations have been made pursuant to section 32D of the Principal Act in respect of that period; (a) the levy contribution shall be calculated by reference to the Schedule herein in respect of the number of days of the levy period during which the entity was regulated, and; (b) any supplementary levy contributions shall be applied in accordance with the Schedule. 4. The Bank shall determine the appropriate category or categories that shall apply to a regulated entity for the purpose of assessing levy contributions and any supplementary levy contributions. 5. A regulated entity is liable to pay the levy contributions prescribed in the Schedule to these Regulations whether or not a levy notice has been issued by the Bank under Regulation 6. 6. Subject to Regulation 8, the Bank may send to a regulated entity a levy notice specifying: (a) the levy contributions assessed by the Bank to be payable by that regulated entity for the relevant levy period in respect of each authorisation held, and (b) the due date for payment of the levy contributions. 7. If no levy notice is received by a regulated entity for the levy period by 29 August 2025 then 26 September 2025 shall be the due date for the payment of the levy contributions by such regulated entity. 8. Without prejudice to whether the Bank issues a levy notice setting out levy contributions pursuant to Regulation 6, where supplementary levy contributions applies, a levy notice specifying the supplementary levy contributions will be issued to a regulated entity. 9. A levy contribution, supplementary levy contribution and any interest accrued in accordance with Regulation 11 shall be paid by a regulated entity by cheque, direct bank transfer or equivalent electronic transfer of funds to a bank account specified by the Bank, or as is otherwise specified by the Bank. 10. (1) A regulated entity may, no later than 21 days following a due date, submit an appeal under this Regulation in respect of a levy contribution and/or supplementary levy contribution payable by such entity. (2) The regulated entity must set out in writing the grounds of the appeal and should include supporting documentation. (3) Payment or a receipt evidencing payment of that portion of the levy contribution or supplementary levy contribution that is not under appeal must be submitted with an appeal under this Regulation. (4) Where in the reasonable opinion of the Bank the obligation of a regulated entity to pay a levy contribution or part thereof or a supplementary levy or part thereof would be likely to make that entity insolvent, or, where the regulated entity is a sole trader, bankrupt, the Bank may waive the obligation of that entity under these Regulations to pay a levy contribution or part thereof or a supplementary levy contribution or part thereof in respect of the relevant levy period. (5) Without prejudice to paragraph (4), the Bank may at its discretion waive or reduce a levy contribution or part thereof, or a supplementary levy contribution or part thereof, in respect of the relevant levy period in exceptional circumstances on foot of an appeal pursuant to paragraph (1). (6) The Bank shall advise the regulated entity in writing of its decision in respect of the appeal, providing reasons for same and details of any amount outstanding in respect of the disputed amount of levy contribution and/or supplementary levy contribution and the due date applicable for the payment of any outstanding levy contribution and/or supplementary levy contribution. 11. Without prejudice to any other remedy available to the Bank, where payment for a levy contribution or supplementary levy contribution has not been received by the due date, interest shall accrue thereon in accordance with the provisions of the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2012 ( S.I. No. 580 of 2012 ) or any amending or replacing legislation. 12. Every sum payable by a regulated entity under these Regulations, including interest, shall be recoverable by the Bank from that person as a simple contract debt in a court of competent jurisdiction. 13. (1) Each regulated entity shall keep full and true records of all matters which affect their liability under these Regulations and of any related returns made. (2) A record kept by a person pursuant to paragraph (1) and, in the case of any such record that has been given by the person to another person, any copy thereof that is in the power or control of the first mentioned person shall be retained by that person for a period of 6 years from the date of the last transaction to which the record relates, provided that this Regulation shall not apply to records of a company that have been disposed of in accordance with section 707 of the Companies Act 2014 (No. 38 of 2014). (3) No person shall, in purported compliance with a provision of these Regulations, provide an answer or explanation, make a statement or produce or deliver any return, certificate, balance sheet or other document which is false in a material particular. (4) A regulated entity that fails to comply with a provision of these Regulations or any applicable regulatory reporting requirements thereby preventing a full and proper assessment of their liability under these Regulations, may be subjected to a levy in accordance with Category L of the Schedule to these Regulations, or, may be otherwise assessed by reference to regulations made under section 32D of the Principal Act or may be otherwise assessed in a manner determined by the Bank, and the Bank may issue a levy notice to such a regulated entity without prejudice to other actions which might be determined necessary or appropriate by the Bank in such circumstances. 14. The Bank may exercise any of the powers and perform any of the functions and duties imposed on the Bank by these Regulations through or by any of the officers or employees of the Bank. CATEGORY A Credit Institutions Type of Regulated Entity Basis of Calculation for Levy Contribution: Minimum Amount plus Variable Amount Supplementary Levy Minimum Amount Variable Amount Irish authorised Credit Institutions (including relevant credit institutions authorised pursuant to section 9A of the Central Bank Act 1971 In addition to the minimum amount, all entities in Category A1 shall pay a variable amount calculated as follows: (b) The levy factors used to determine the variable amount in respect of an entity in category A1 shall be the amount of each of the following: (i) total assets as reported in FINREP template F01.01 row 380 for the period 31 December 2024. For entities whose year-end is October, data for the period 31 October 2024 will be used. For entities whose year-end is March, data for the period 31 March 2024 will be used. For entities whose year-end is January, data for the period 31 January 2025 will be used. (ii) total risk exposure as reported in COREP template C02.00 row 010 for the period 31 December 2024. (c) The relative weighting applied to the levy factors referred to in paragraph (b)(i) and (ii) above shall be: (iii) total assets: 50% (iv) total risk exposure: 50%. Accordingly, the variable amount (V) to be paid by a credit institution in this category shall be calculated as follows: V = ((S + G) * 50%) * C where C = proportion of total variable amount for category A1 The values of S, G and C relevant to their levy calculations shall be communicated by the Bank directly to each entity. In relation to credit institution groups, one levy shall be calculated and issued at the highest level of consolidation in respect of its regulatory reporting to the Bank. The funding requirement relates principally to the recovery of 2024 costs allocated to the category but is adjusted for balancing items and deferred income from previous years and such other approved adjustments. Supplementary Levy Supplementary Levy Contribution: Certain credit institutions within the scope of category A1 (that were previously in the ELG Scheme) shall pay a supplementary levy contribution to the Bank in addition to the levy contribution For the purposes of providing the Bank with sufficient funds for the conduct of activities relating to inquiries that may be held by the Bank under Part IIIC of the Central Bank Act 1942 Such supplementary levy will be set out in a levy notice sent to relevant credit institutions within the scope of category A1. Type of regulated entity Basis of calculation of levy contribution: Flat Rate Levy Credit Institutions authorised in another EEA state which have established a branch in Ireland Each credit institution within category A2 and A3 shall pay a flat rate levy of €33,125. Credit Institutions authorised in another EEA state operating in Ireland on a Freedom of Services basis Type of regulated entity Basis of calculation for levy contribution: Supplementary Levies A1, A2 and A3 (As above) The following supplementary levy contributions are separate levies which shall be paid in addition to the levy contributions above. Supplementary Levy Contribution (1): Tracker Mortgage Investigation For the purposes of providing the Bank with sufficient funds to enable it to exercise its powers under Part IIIC of the Central Bank Act 1942 in respect of serious failings relating to tracker mortgage accounts and notified to each relevant lender, Credit Institutions who themselves, or, the persons concerned in their management have been, or remain subject to, the Tracker Mortgage Investigation shall pay a supplementary levy to the Bank. Supplementary Levy Contribution (2): Significant changes to Business Model For the purposes of providing the Bank with sufficient funds to enable it to consider significant changes to the business model and/or activities of a credit institution, relevant credit institutions shall pay a supplementary levy. Such supplementary levies will be set out in a levy notice sent to relevant credit institutions within the scope of categories A1, A2 and A3. CATEGORY B Insurance Undertakings Category B: Insurance/reinsurance undertakings authorised in Ireland Basis of Calculation for Levy Contribution: Impact Category* Life Insurance Undertakings as defined under the EU (Insurance and Reinsurance) Regulations 2015 with an Irish Head Office Non-Life Undertakings as defined under the EU (Insurance and Reinsurance) Regulations 2015 with an Irish Head Office Reinsurance Undertakings as defined under the EU (Insurance and Reinsurance) Regulations 2015 with an Irish Head Office Branch in the State of a third-country insurance undertaking as defined under the EU (Insurance and Reinsurance) Regulations 2015 * ‘Impact Category’ is a rating given to regulated entities by the Bank in accordance with the Bank’s Probability Risk and Impact System (PRISM) framework. Category B: Insurance undertakings authorised in another EEA state Basis of Calculation for Levy Contribution: Gross Written Premium on Irish risk business or Flat Rate Levy GWP > Flat Levy Life Insurance Undertakings authorised in another EEA state which have established a branch in Ireland Life Insurance Undertakings authorised in another EEA state operating in Ireland on a Freedom of Services basis Non-Life Insurance Undertakings authorised in another EEA state which have established a branch in Ireland writing motor insurance Non-Life Insurance Undertakings authorised in another EEA state which have established a branch in Ireland not included in B5a Non-Life Insurance Undertakings authorised in another EEA state operating in Ireland on a Freedom of Services basis Category B: Special Purpose Reinsurance Vehicles Basis of Calculation for Levy Contribution: Minimum Levy plus Contribution per Arrangement on a pro rata basis with respect to the number of days of the levy period during which the Special Purpose Reinsurance Vehicle or arrangement were approved Minimum Levy (single arrangement) More than one arrangement (multiple arrangements) Special Purpose Reinsurance Vehicles (SPRVs) shall pay a minimum levy equivalent to 50% of that applied to Low impact undertakings in Category B (Insurance / reinsurance undertakings authorised in Ireland) in respect of single arrangements. An SPRV with multiple arrangements is subject to the minimum levy with the second and each subsequent SPRV arrangement subject to a levy equivalent to one-third of the minimum levy payable in respect of a single arrangement. €4,972 per second and each subsequent arrangement CATEGORY C Intermediaries and Debt Management Firms Type of Regulated Entity Basis of Calculation for Levy Contribution: Minimum Levy plus Variable Levy Minimum Levy Variable Levy Intermediaries (including Investment Product Intermediaries and Mortgage Intermediaries who hold authorisations under the Consumer Credit Act 1995 Variable Levy calculated as follows: (A — B) * C A = total of firm’s ‘Income from Fees’ and ‘Income from Commissions’ as reported in the firm’s On-Line Return to the Bank for year ended 31 December 2023 which was due for submission to the Bank at end June 2024 or the most recent previously submitted report; B = threshold level of total ‘Income from Fees’ and ‘Income from Commissions’ of €200,000; and C = Variable Levy Rate of 0.21%. Mortgage Credit Intermediaries who hold authorisations under the European Union (Consumer Mortgage Credit Agreements) Regulations 2016 Insurance/Reinsurance Intermediaries registered under the EC (Insurance Mediation) Regulations 2005 Debt Management Firms authorised under the Central Bank Act, 1997 CATEGORY D Investment Firms (other than Investment Product Intermediaries) (Firms regulated under the provisions of either the Investment Intermediaries Act, 1995 or European Union (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2017 [ S.I. No. 375 of 2017 ] or any amending or replacing legislation) Type of Regulated Entity: Investment Firms Basis of Calculation for Levy Contribution: Impact Category* Designated Fund Managers Receipt & Transmission of Orders &/ or Provision of Investment Advice Portfolio Management; Execution of Orders Own Account Trading; Underwriting on a Firm Commitment Basis Stock Exchange Member Firms: Member Firms of the Irish Stock Exchange which have been authorised or deemed authorised as an Investment Firm under the European Union (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2017 or any amending or replacing legislation Firms authorised under the Investment Intermediaries Act 1995 that are not captured in any other levy category for the purposes of these Regulations High Volume Algorithmic Trading Firms Market Infrastructure Firms Investment Firms in D1 to D10 subject to Client Asset Requirements For the purposes of providing the Bank with sufficient funds to enable it to continue to perform its functions under the Client Asset Requirements, institutions which are subject to the Client Asset Requirements in the categories D1 — D10 shall pay a supplementary levy to the Bank. The supplementary levy contribution is a separate levy which shall be paid in addition to the levy contribution. Investment Firms in D1 to D10 within the meaning of Regulation 3 of the European Union (Bank Recovery and Resolution) Regulations 2015 S.I. 289 of 2015 Pursuant to Regulation 5 of the European Union (Bank Recovery and Resolution) Regulations 2015, and for the purposes of providing the Bank with sufficient funds to enable the Bank to perform its functions as resolution authority under the European Union (Bank Recovery and Resolution) Regulations 2015, all of the investment firms in this category shall pay a supplementary levy to the Bank. The supplementary levy contribution is a separate levy which shall be paid in addition to the levy contribution. Investment Firms authorised in another EEA state which have established a branch in Ireland All entities in this sub-category shall pay a flat rate levy of €28,093 ‘Impact Category’ is a rating given to regulated entities by the Bank in accordance with the Bank’s Probability Risk and Impact System (PRISM) framework. CATEGORY E Investment Funds, Alternative Investment Fund Managers and other Investment Fund Service Providers Type of Regulated Entity: Investment Funds Basis of Calculation for Levy Contribution: Minimum Levy plus levy Contribution per Sub-fund Minimum Levy (Single & Umbrella Funds) More than one sub-fund (Umbrellas only) Authorised UCITS; Authorised Unit Trusts; Authorised Investment Companies (Designated and non-Designated); Authorised Investment Limited Partnerships; Authorised Common Contractual Funds; Authorised Irish Collective Asset-management Vehicles (ICAV). €579 per sub fund UCITS Self-Managed Investment Companies (SMICs); UCITS Self-Managed ICAVs; Authorised Designated Investment Companies (Internally Managed Alternative Investment Funds); Authorised Irish Collective Asset-management Vehicles (Internally Managed AIF ICAVs). 1 The minimum levy and, where applicable, the levy contribution in respect of each sub-fund is payable in respect of each authorisation granted by the Bank. Type of Regulated Entity: Alternative Investment Fund Managers and other Investment Service Providers Basis of Calculation for Levy Contribution: Impact Category* or Flat Rate Levy AIF Management Companies UCITS Managers (Non Delegating); Alternative Investment Fund Managers. UCITS Managers (Delegating) UCITS managers and alternative investment fund managers authorised in another EEA state which have established a branch in Ireland All entities in this sub-category shall pay a flat rate levy of €18,908. * ‘Impact Category’ is a rating given to regulated entities by the Bank in accordance with the Bank’s Probability Risk and Impact System (PRISM) framework. CATEGORY F Credit Unions Type of regulated entity Basis of calculation for levy contribution Credit Unions The required levy from individual credit unions will be assessed as 0.03% of total assets reported in the quarterly prudential return setting out their balance sheet as at 31 December 2024 provided that the total levy collected or recovered from credit unions does not exceed the total costs incurred by the Bank in performing the functions and exercising the powers of the Bank under the Credit Union Act, 1997 CATEGORY G High Cost Credit Providers Type of Regulated Entity Basis of Calculation for Levy Contribution: Minimum Levy plus Variable Levy Minimum Levy Variable Levy High Cost Credit Providers (HCCP) Variable Levy calculated as follows: (A — B) * C A = total of firm’s turnover reported to the Bank in section 5.2 of the most recently received Renewal Application (2024) for the entity B = threshold level of total ‘Turnover’ of €60,000; and C = Variable Levy Rate of 1.178%. This levy will cover HCCPs’ operation in all Court Districts. CATEGORY H Approved Professional Bodies Type of Regulated Entity Basis of Calculation for Levy Contribution: Impact Category* Approved Professional Bodies * ‘Impact Category’ is a rating given to regulated entities by the Bank in accordance with the Bank’s Probability Risk and Impact System (PRISM) framework. CATEGORY J Bureaux de Change Type of Regulated Entity Basis of Calculation for Levy Contribution: Impact Category* Bureaux de Change * ‘Impact Category’ is a rating given to regulated entities by the Bank in accordance with the Bank’s Probability Risk and Impact System (PRISM) framework. CATEGORY L Default Assessments Type of regulated entity Basis of calculation for levy contribution: Flat Rate Levy Regulated entities falling within Regulation 13(4) Each regulated entity falling within Regulation 13(4) shall pay a flat rate levy of €4,250. CATEGORY M Retail Credit Firms and Credit Servicing Firms Type of Regulated Entity: Retail Credit Firms; Credit Servicing Firms Basis of Calculation for Levy Contribution: Impact Category* Retail Credit Firms €102,500 to €250,000 Credit Servicing Firms Transitional Retail Credit and Credit Servicing Firms in wind-down Due to enhanced supervision within the sectoral supervisory framework, certain Firms are subject to a higher levy contribution (being €125,000 to €250,000). * ‘Impact Category’ is a rating given to regulated entities by the Bank in accordance with the Bank’s Probability Risk and Impact System (PRISM) framework. CATEGORY N Payment Institutions and E-Money Institutions Type of Regulated Entity Basis of Calculation for Levy Contribution: All entities in this category will pay a levy combining a flat rate levy (“minimum levy”) of €5,300 and a variable element based on 100% of the Total Value of Annual Transactions Processed. Minimum Levy* Variable Levy Payment Institutions Variable Levy calculatedas follows: A = B/C B = Value of Transactions processed by the firm as reported in On-Line Returns to the Bank for year ended 31 December 2024; C = Total Value of Transactions processed by all firms as reported in On-Line Returns to the Bank for year ended 31 December 2024. E-Money Institutions An Post in its capacity as a Payment Service Provider * In addition to the Minimum and Variable levies as above, any firms rated as ‘Ultra High’ on the Central Bank’s AML/CTF [Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism] risk matrix will be required to pay a separate flat rate levy of €397,500. CATEGORY Q Virtual Asset Service Providers Type of regulated entity Basis of calculation for levy contribution: Flat Rate Levy Virtual Asset Service Providers Due to enhanced supervision, two Firms are subject to a higher amount than the flat rate levy (being €27,000 and €63,000). CATEGORY S Crowdfunding Service Providers Type of regulated entity Basis of calculation for levy contribution: Flat Rate Levy Crowdfunding Service Providers Signed for and on behalf of the CENTRAL BANK COMMISSION, 23 July 2025 MARY ELIZABETH MCNUNN, Deputy Governor, Financial Regulation EXPLANATORY NOTE This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation. The purpose of these Regulations is to prescribe levies pursuant to section 32D of the Central Bank Act 1942 1 As insurance undertakings operating in Ireland on a Freedom of Services basis may write Irish risk business, they will be subject to a levy designed to contribute towards the cost of regulation. 2 Special purpose reinsurance vehicle means a “special purpose vehicle” as defined under the EU (Insurance and Reinsurance) Regulations 2015 S.I. 485 of 2015