If you worked in any of these countries, you could be due a Tax Refund

Claim your 2019 Irish tax refund

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How can I claim my 2019 Irish tax refund?

It’s universally agreed that no one should overpay tax.

And yet did you know that millions of euro in potential tax refunds go unclaimed by the Irish public every year?

In fact, the average PAYE tax refund from Taxback.com is an eye-watering €1,076. So while you’d probably rather do literally anything else than think about tax for even five minutes, it’s definitely worth taking some time to look into what you’re due.

We know all too well how difficult it can be to navigate the confusing world of taxes. So, if you’re feeling daunted by the prospect of claiming your tax entitlements, don’t worry, you're not alone, and we’re here to help!

In this blog we’re going to take a look at the most common tax reliefs that can be claimed and exactly how you can get your hands on your cash.

Medical and dental expenses.

Owed medical expenses?

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With the average Irish family splashing out over €2,000 on medical expenses each year, it may come as a shock to you that only 4 in 10 Irish people claim tax relief on these fees, and with the standard rate at 20%, this means over €400 is left unclaimed.

You can also claim on dental expenses if the procedures are classed as non-routine, these include braces, crowns, and root canals. Routine procedures include fillings and denture repairs, and you won’t be able to claim tax back on these.

While you can’t claim back on expenses that are covered by your health insurance. You can, however, claim tax back on excess medical or eligible dental payments.

Ask your dentist to provide you with a MED2 form for this.

Relief for specific diets

Many Irish people aren’t aware that if you have a medical condition which requires a specific diet, you are entitled to claim tax relief on those costs. For example, a coeliac that requires a gluten-free diet qualifies for tax relief.

A letter from your doctor as well as relevant receipts from the purchase of gluten-free products will be needed to avail of this form of tax relief.

It should be noted, however, that tax relief cannot be claimed on products that are naturally gluten-free, only specially made dietary products.

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College fees


Did you know that if you are paying the fees for a full or part-time third-level course, for yourself or even for your child, then you may be able to claim tax relief on some of the expenses?

Oh, and the good news doesn’t stop there, as there is no limit to the number of people in a family that are able to claim relief! This is commonly claimed by parents of more than one child who attended college.

While you can't claim any relief on fees for registration and examinations, there’s still quite a lot that you could be missing out on.

Tax relief for college fees is granted at the standard rate of 20%.

College fees

Did you know that if you are paying the fees for a full or part-time third-level course, for yourself or even for your child, then you may be able to claim tax relief on some of the expenses?

Oh, and the good news doesn’t stop there, as there is no limit to the number of people in a family that are able to claim relief! This is commonly claimed by parents of more than one child who attended college.

While you can't claim any relief on fees for registration and examinations, there’s still quite a lot that you could be missing out on.

Tax relief for college fees is granted at the standard rate of 20%.

Flat Rate Expenses

A Flat Rate Expense is a type of tax relief or tax credit that is available to people in certain occupations. The intention of Flat Rate Expenses is to help with costs associated with work, for instance uniforms, tools and equipment.

There is a set amount allocated to each occupation - hence why it is called a 'flat rate' expense.

It can be confusing and difficult to understand what exactly constitutes a Flat Rate Expense, but you should know the different expenses that apply specifically to your job.

The lowest flat rate is €33 for professionals: engineers, surveyors, etc as well as general operatives (labourers etc. incl. Public Sector) and the highest flat rate is €2476 for people working in RTE National Symphony Orchestra.

If you’re a dentist in employment you will be entitled to a €376 Flat Rate Expense per year from 2016-2019.

Also, it doesn’t matter if you’re a bar man who pulls pints of Guinness all day in a small pub in Longford or you’re a specially trained mixologist in one of Dublin's fanciest bars, either way you're entitled to the Flat Rate Expense of €93.

Working from home

Roughly 100,000 Irish workers out there work from home, and are entitled to can claim back on a large quantity of expenses.

If you are working from home, the good news is you can claim on costs ranging from heating to broadband, meaning you can claim it against the higher rate of tax.

Keep your receipts close

Be sure to always keep your receipts as you will need documentation as proof that what you are claiming a refund on actually existed!

You can do this either with paper or electronic records.

If you choose to use electronic records then you must capture all the information on the receipt, front and back. It’s a good idea to keep a backup as well in case you lose it.

The average Irish tax refund is €1,880

GET YOURS NOW

By getting in touch with our team at Taxback.com, you'll be guaranteed to receive your maximum legal tax refund. This money will be transferred straight into your bank account once the paperwork is complete!

To claim your tax refund easily and quickly online with us, get started by completing this form.

About The Author

Rory Lynskey - Digital Content Executive @ Taxback.com

Rory is the Digital Content Executive at Taxback.com. Rory graduated from Technological University Dublin with a degree in Journalism in 2019, and has had his work published both online and in print at a national and regional level.

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