Can Irish accountants accept commissions or referral fees under their code?
Whether an Irish accountant may accept a referral reward depends on the Chartered Accountants Ireland code of ethics as currently written, whether the firm does assurance work for the client, and whether the reward is disclosed. Read the code, ask your body, and get its answer in writing before registering.
Can an Irish accountant accept a referral reward?
It depends on your status, your firm's work for the client and the current text of your professional body's code of ethics. Irish chartered accountants are bound by the code of their own body, and that code, not this site, decides whether a commission or referral reward is allowed, needs disclosure or must be refused. Read it first, then ask your body's ethics support.
This page does not reproduce the text of the Chartered Accountants Ireland code of ethics, and it does not paraphrase it from memory. What it can do is list the questions such rules usually turn on and show how to document your answers.
What is the general shape of these rules?
Accountancy codes tend to ask the same few questions about a commission or referral fee. Treat these as prompts to check against your own code, not as statements of Irish law.
| Question the code usually raises | Why it matters | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Is the reward for recommending a product or service to a client? | Commissions can threaten objectivity | The fees and remuneration section of your code |
| Does the firm perform assurance or audit work for the client? | Independence rules are strictest there | The independence provisions |
| Is the reward contingent on an outcome? | Contingent arrangements raise self-interest concerns | The same section, plus any guidance notes |
| Is the arrangement disclosed to the client? | Informed clients can evaluate bias | Disclosure and consent wording |
| Does a safeguard apply (separate team, refusal, withdrawal)? | Codes often allow an offsetting measure | The conceptual framework section |
For comparison, the US AICPA Code of Professional Conduct contains a Commissions and Referral Fees Rule at ET 1.520, which mainly restricts members when the firm performs attest services for the client; see the AICPA code as hosted by the Minnesota Board of Accountancy. State boards in the US can be stricter, as a New Jersey CPA society resource shows. That is a reference point only. It does not apply to you and says nothing about Ireland.
How does it apply in common situations?
| Situation | What to check | Outcome to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| You audit the client | Independence rules on any financial interest or reward | Independence rules are strictest here; confirm with your body |
| You do tax or bookkeeping only, no assurance | Fee and commission provisions, and disclosure duties | Whether disclosure and consent are enough |
| The client is a US company, you are paid as an individual outside the firm | Outside-activity and firm policy rules | Whether the firm's approval is needed |
| You introduce a client of a former employer | Confidentiality and contract terms | Whether you may share the client name at all |
What is the introduction, and what do you share?
The SourceX model is narrow. You introduce a US company with 50+ full-time employees at peak (contractors excluded) and share basic fit information only. You never export, upload or describe confidential records. Client identity can itself be confidential in a professional relationship, so get the client's consent before you share a name, and tell them what you may receive.
Partners earn 25% of eligible platform fees SourceX actually collects, capped at $100,000 per referred company, payable only after the buyer pays and SourceX receives its fee. No reward is guaranteed, and it is never deducted from what the company receives. Details are in the program terms.
Disclosure good practice
Even where a rule permits a reward, disclose it. A short written note on the file works:
- State who pays you and what the reward is based on, in general terms.
- Say that the client is under no obligation to proceed.
- Record the client's consent and the date.
- Note any safeguards, such as handing the relationship to a colleague.
Related reading: the guide for advisers in Ireland, the overview for accountants and bookkeeping firms, and sibling pages on Dutch (NBA) and Singapore (ISCA) rules. If a UK or Irish firm also has UK exposure, the page on the UK Bribery Act and referral fees is relevant.
Questions to ask your professional body
- Does my code restrict or require disclosure of a commission or referral reward in my circumstances?
- Does my answer change if the firm does assurance work for the client?
- Do I need my firm's written approval for outside income?
- Should the reward go to me, or to the firm?
- How should I document the client's consent?
If you will need US tax paperwork, see the guide to filling out a W-8BEN-E.
This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm with your own counsel, tax adviser or professional body before acting.
Next step
Get your body's answer in writing. If it permits the arrangement, register as a partner and estimate the formula with the referral earnings calculator.
- Step 1Share your linkSend your personal link to a company you know.
- Step 2Company appliesThe company applies itself at /apply.
- Step 3Buyer selects and paysThe buyer selects and pays for the data and SourceX receives its fee.
- Step 4You get your rewardYour share of SourceX fees becomes payable.
Common questions
So can an Irish accountant take a reward or not?
No. It says the answer depends on your status, the services your firm provides to the client and the current text of your body's code. It does not state the rule, so read the code, ask your body's ethics support, and document the answer before you register.
Does it matter if my firm audits the client?
In most accountancy frameworks it matters a great deal, because independence rules are strictest for assurance clients. The US AICPA rule, for instance, focuses on attest clients. That is only a comparison. Check what your own code says and, if in doubt, treat an assurance client as off limits until your body says otherwise.
Should I tell the client about the reward?
As a matter of good practice, yes, whatever the rule says. Record in writing who pays you, what the reward is based on in general terms, that the client has no obligation to proceed, and the client's consent. Never share a client's name with SourceX before you have that consent.
Can the reward be paid to my firm instead of me?
Possibly, but that is a question for your body and your firm. It changes the tax, the contract party and sometimes the ethics analysis. Decide the receiving party before you register so tax forms, agreement and bank details match from the start.
Is the reward guaranteed?
No. Rewards are 25% of eligible platform fees SourceX actually collects, capped at $100,000 per referred company, and they are payable only after the buyer pays and SourceX receives its fee. An introduction, a meeting or a signed agreement alone does not trigger payment.
Related pages
- How Irish advisors can refer US companies and earn a data licensing reward
- Referral opportunities for accountants and bookkeeping firms
- Can a Dutch accountant accept a referral fee under NBA rules?
- Can Singapore accountants accept a referral commission from SourceX?
- UK Bribery Act and referral fees: what disclosure and adequate procedures mean
- How to fill out a W-8BEN-E for an advisory or consulting firm
Free resources
- SDE vs EBITDA calculator — Seller's discretionary earnings next to market-rate EBITDA.
- IRR calculator — Internal rate of return on annual cash flows.
- Business valuation calculator — Enterprise and equity value from EBITDA, your multiple, cash and debt.
- All free tools · MCP resource center
By SourceX Partnerships Team · Published 2026-10-09 · Updated 2026-10-09
Know a US company with valuable proprietary data?
Become a referral partner from anywhere we support, get your link and introduce an owner or authorized decision-maker.
Refer a company →I own a business
Explore licensing your company's data to AI developers worldwide. Start a short assessment; no uploads needed.
Start an assessment