Zampa Partners: How the Budget prioritised families
Watch: Markita Falzon, Tax Leader at Zampa Partners, provides expert analysis
Budget 2026 has leaned firmly into a “family-first” narrative. As tax advisor Markita Falzon from Zampa Partners explains, the centrepiece is a widening of parental tax bands, including the introduction of a new band for families with two or more children. Phased in over three years, the reform could deliver cumulative tax savings of up to €10,000 for a couple by 2028 a material incentive that positions household support as the Budget’s defining theme.
The family emphasis goes further in Budget 2026. Birth and adoption bonuses have been increased, while new measures support parents who take time off work to raise children. “These are clear signals,” Falzon notes, “that the Government wants this to be remembered as a Budget built around family priorities.”
From a business perspective, Falzon highlights two areas. First, for family-owned enterprises, the extension of incentives around succession notably reduced stamp duty on donated shares and grants for governance and succession planning will help smoother transitions and strengthen continuity. Second, on competitiveness, the Budget sharpens its push for digitalisation and innovation: enhanced micro-invest tax credits and a new 60% tax credit for qualifying investments are designed to encourage firms to modernise, adopt technology and build productivity gains.
Yet Falzon is clear-eyed about what remains to be tackled. “While the measures for families and business are welcome, transport and infrastructure continue to demand sustained attention,” she says. “We also need a stronger, long-term approach to construction standards and environmental sustainability.” In her view, these systemic issues ultimately shape quality of life and the economy’s capacity to grow without friction.
Overall, Falzon's verdict is balanced: a Budget that delivers tangible relief for households, provides targeted support for succession and innovation, and sets a constructive tone for business investment while leaving big-ticket structural challenges still to be addressed. For families planning the next few years and owners charting the future of their businesses, the direction of travel is clearer; the test now is whether broader infrastructure and sustainability plans will keep pace.
Zampa Partners