Are you entitled to a Tax Refund?

There are two common reasons you may be entitled to a tax refund –

  1. Unemployed/Left Ireland – You have become unemployed or you have left Ireland (do not plan on returning within the current tax year) and you have had tax deducted in your employment since January 1st of the current year.
  2. Tax Credit Claim – You have not claimed all available tax credits on your tax credit certificate – the most common credits that are not claimed include medical expenses, rent relief and service charges.

[red_callout]
Remember you can claim tax back on tax you paid in the last 4 years, not including the current year.
Please note that there is a four-year time limit for claiming income tax refunds.
PAYE taxpayers seeking an income tax refund for 2009 must submit their claim to Revenue by 31st December 2013.
Claim your refund now before its too late simply complete the form to the right[/red_callout]

Some client’s worry about a possible underpayment of tax arising when they make a claim. An underpayment of tax may arise where the tax credits granted to you for the year were incorrect or an error occurred when the tax was deducted by your employer. We can check if this may apply to you before you make the claim, so your claim is risk free! 

Get in touch now and we will send you our unique Tax Credit Questionnaire, which ensures you will not miss out on any claims. We will let you know if you have any possible claims, free of charge!

Free Initial Consultation

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Unemployed/Left Ireland

How much tax is refunded?

If you are entitled to a tax refund the amount of the refund will depend on:

  • The length of time you have been unemployed
  • The amount of tax you have paid
  • The amount of tax credits utilised by you.

When do I apply for a refund?

Generally you should wait a minimum of 4 weeks from the date you became unemployed before you apply for a tax refund.

If however you are in receipt of any taxable sources of income (which would include taxable income from the Department of Social Protection) you should wait a minimum of 8 weeks, as, any tax credit will be utilised in part or in full against the other income.

If emergency tax was deducted by your former employer, you may apply immediately for a refund on becoming unemployed.

Is there a time limit for claiming refunds?

Yes. Claims for refunds must be made within 4 years of the end of the year to which the claim relates. Claims made after this time cannot be repaid.

If I am in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit while unemployed how will this affect my claim for a tax refund?

Jobseekers Benefit is a taxable source of income. However, any child dependent element and the first €13 per week of benefit are exempt from tax. When you make a claim for a tax refund the taxable portion of the Jobseekers Benefit will be added to your pay and the appropriate refund, if any, will be made. You should note that if the weekly amount of your Jobseekers Benefit exceeds your weekly tax credit you will not be entitled to a refund.

How do I apply?

Simply fill in your details below

Free Initial Consultation

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 and we will apply for your tax back, today! We can tell you what your possible claim is, free of charge! What are you waiting for? >>>

 

Tax Credit Claim

The most common claims are Medical Expenses, Rent Relief and Service Charges. However depending on your personal circumstances you may be able to claim other credits.

Why not get in touch now and we will email you our unique Tax Credit Questionnaire which will ensure you are claiming all available credits. 

Current rates for claims can be seen in the table below.

Medical/Health Expenses

You may claim tax relief in respect of the cost of certain medical expenses paid by you. You cannot claim tax relief for any expenditure which:

  • has been, or will be, reimbursed by another body such as the VHI, Quinn Insurance Ltd, Aviva Health Insurance Ltd, the Health Service Executive or other body or person
  • has been, or will be, the subject of a compensation payment
  • relates to routine dental and ophthalmic care.
Rent Credit

An individual, paying for private rented accommodation used as a sole or main residence. This includes rent paid for flats, apartments or houses. Rent paid to Local Authority tenancies, Army, etc. is not claimable.

Budget 2011 changed the rules on rent relief for tenants of private rented housing:

  • The relief will be phased out over 8 years
  • Claimants who were not renting at 7 December 2010 and who subsequently entered into a rental agreement will not be able to claim relief
Service Charges
Income tax relief is available for individuals who pay service charges to local authorities and other independent contractors. Relief is given for service charges paid in full and on time in the previous calendar year. 
From 1 January 2012 tax relief will no longer be available for service charges paid. The abolition of this relief was announced by the Minister for Finance in his 2010 Budget Speech on 9 December 2009.

Service Charges which qualify for relief include all service charges paid to:

  • Local authorities for the provision of domestic water supply, domestic refuse collection or disposal, or domestic sewage disposal
  • Group water schemes for domestic water supply
  • Independent contractors for domestic refuse collection or disposal.

Current and historic rates for Tax Credits are as follows – 

Personal Tax Credits
  2011 € 2010 € 2009 € 2008 € 2007 €
Single 1,650 1,830 1,830 1,830 1,760
Married 3,300 3,660 3,660 3,660 3,520
Widowed (other yrs) with dependent child 1,650 1,830 1,830 1,830 1,760
Widowed Person without dependent child 2,190 2,430 2,430 2,430 2,310
Widowed Person bereavement year 3,300 3,660 3,660 3,660 3,520
Widowed Parent 1st yr. after death 3,600 4,000 4,000 4,000 3,750
Widowed Parent 2nd yr. after death 3,150 3,500 3,500 3,500 3,250
Widowed Parent 3rd yr. after death 2,700 3,000 3,000 3,000 2,750
Widowed Parent 4th yr. after death 2,250 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,250
Widowed Parent 5th yr. after death 1,800 2,000 2,000 2,000 1,750
One Parent Family Single 1,650 1,830 1,830 1,830 1,760
One Parent Family Widowed 1.650 1,830 1,830 1,830 1,760
One Parent Family Income Limit of Child 0 0 0 0 0
Aged Tax Credit Single 245 325 325 325 275
Aged Tax Credit Married 490 650 650 650 550
Home Carer’s Credit Max 810 Max 900 Max 900 Max 900 Max 770
Incapacitated Person – employing a carer – Max 50,000 * 50,000 * 50,000 * 50,000 * 50,000 *
PAYE 1,650 1,830 1,830 1,830 1,760
Child Incapacitated 3,300 3,660 3,660 3,660 3,000
Child
Income Limit of child		 0 0 0 0 0
Dependant Relative 70 80 80 80 80
Dependant Relative Income Limit 13,837 13,837 13,837 13,473 12,745
Blind Persons 1 spouse blind 1,650 1,830 1,830 1,830 1,760
Blind Persons Both spouses blind 3,300 3,660 3,660 3,660 3,520
Blind Persons Guide Dog – Allowance 825 825 825 825 * 825 *
Job Assist Year 1 (Additional for Each Child) *3,810 (*1270) *3,810 (*1,270) *3,810 (*1,270) *3,810 (*1,270) *3,810 (*1,270)
Job Assist Year 2 (Additional for Each Child) *2,540
(*850)		 *2,540
(*850)		 *2,540
(*850)		 *2,540
(*850)		 *2,540
(*850)
Job Assist Year 3 (Additional for Each Child) *1,270
(*425)		 *1,270
(*425)		 *1,270
(*425)		 *1,270
(*425)		 *1,270
(*425)
Rent Tax Credit Aged 320//640 400/800 400/800 400/800 360/720
Rent Tax Credit Aged 640/1,280 800/1,600 800/1,600 800/1,600 720/1,440
Rent Tax Credit Aged 640/1,280 800/1,600 800/1,600 800/1,600 720/1,440
Rent Tax Credit Aged Nil / Nil Nil / Nil Nil / Nil Nil / Nil Nil / Nil
Trade Union Subscription Tax Credit Nil 70 70 70 60
Service Charges(previous year payment) Tags/ Independent Contractor All Inclusive: Max 80 All Inclusive: Max 80 All Inclusive: Max 80 All Inclusive: Max 80 All Inclusive: Max 80
Service Charges (previous year payment) All other All Inclusive: Max 80 All Inclusive: Max 80 All Inclusive: Max 80 All Inclusive: Max 80 All Inclusive: Max 80
Interest – First time buyers (Allowable for first 7 years) Single (Max) **10,000 **10,000 **10,000 10,000 8,000
Interest – First time buyers
(Allowable for first 7 years) Widowed		 **20,000 **20,000 **20,000 20,000 16,000
Interest – First time buyers (Allowable for first 7 years) Married **20,000 **20,000 **20,000 20,000 16,000
Interest – First time buyers (Allowable for first 7 years) Available at Top Rate Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil
Interest – Non-first time buyers Single (Max) **3,000 **3,000 **3,000 3,000 3,000
Interest – Non-first time buyers Widowed **6,000 **6,000 **6,000 6,000 6,000
Interest – Non-first time buyers Married **6,000 **6,000 **6,000 6,000 6,000
Interest – Non-first time buyers Availble at Top Rate Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil
Tax Rate: Sch F 20% WH 20% WH 20% WH 20% WH 20% WH