DISCLAIMER: This information is a summary only and is not intended to constitute tax advice. For tax advice consult a Tax Advisor only.
Claiming your Tax Refund is a simple and rewarding task in Ireland. We’ll show you how to claim your own Tax Refund in minutes using this simple step-by-step guide. You simply need to file your Tax Return.
NB: The taxman calculates your tax reliefs and your tax liabilities. They add any amount you may owe to your tax bill over the next year. Most employees are due a refund if they claim all their reliefs and credits properly.
Why you should file your Tax Return…
- Claim Tax Credits and Reliefs: Filing a tax return allows you to claim additional tax credits and reliefs that you might not automatically receive, such as medical expenses, tuition fees, or rent tax credit.
- Tax Refunds: If you have overpaid tax during the year, filing a return can help you claim a refund. This is common if your income fluctuates, you changed jobs, or had periods of unemployment.
- Accuracy of Tax Affairs: Filing a tax return ensures that your tax affairs are accurate and up-to-date. This helps avoid potential issues or discrepancies with the Revenue Commissioners.
- Self-Assessment and Compliance: By filing a return, you fulfill your legal obligations under self-assessment tax rules, ensuring compliance with Irish tax laws.
- Record Keeping: It provides an opportunity to review and update your financial records, ensuring all income and expenses are accurately recorded.
Gather your necessary info:
- Personal details (PPS number, address, etc.).
- Details of all income sources (rental income, investment income etc.).
- Records of any tax-deductible expenses (medical expenses, tuition fees, etc.).
- Receipts for any tax relief claims.
3 Steps to Filing your Tax Return in Ireland…
1. Sign in to myAccount online
- If you haven’t already, register for myAccount on the Revenue website. This will give you access to the necessary online services.
- Access the myAccount portal using your PPS number and password. Check your registration details match.
2. View your Preliminary End of Year Statement:
Your Preliminary End of Year Statement sets out your provisional tax position.
- After logging into myAccount, click on ‘Review your Tax’ for the relevant years.
- Select the relevant year to receive your Statement of Liability ie. a statement of how much you owe the taxman. We calculate how much the taxman owes you later.
- View your Preliminary End of Year Statement for your chosen tax year and ensure it’s correct.
3. Complete your Income Tax Return:
Now, you’re going to request tax reliefs and credits ie. amounts the taxman owes you.
- Click on ‘Complete your Income Tax Return’ shown on the screenshot directly above.
- The 5 remaining steps to complete your Income Tax return are shown now on myAccount.
- Check your personal details are correct.
- Some details are prepopulated using information supplied by third-parties such as your employer and pension provider.
- Enter your non-PAYE tax income ie. any income you received that didn’t come from your job or jobs.
- Enter all the expenses you paid for which you are claiming tax reliefs or credits eg. Rent Tax Credit
- Declare your data to be truthful and accurate.
- NB: It’s your responsibility to ensure that all data entered is correct.
- Sign in one more time so Revenue can be sure it’s you.
- The Thank You screen confirms that you’ve successfully submitted your tax return.
Confirmation and Follow-Up:
- Revenue may process your return immediately or contact you for additional information if needed.
- You can track the status of your return through the myAccount portal.
- If a refund is due, it will be processed and issued by Revenue, typically directly to your bank account.
Additional Tips
- Deadlines: Be aware of the filing deadlines to avoid penalties. The deadline for online returns is usually later than for paper returns.
- Assistance: If you are unsure about any part of the process, consider seeking assistance from a tax advisor or using the help resources available on the Revenue website.
By following these steps, a PAYE worker in Ireland can efficiently file their tax return, ensuring they maximize their entitlements and maintain accurate and compliant tax records.
Dara Burke
Web Entrepreneur
Dara is the founder of myTaxHero.ie, an organisation whose mission is to help young workers survive the cost-of-living and housing crisis in Ireland. Dara spent ten years abroad, living and working in Asia, the US, the Subcontinent and elsewhere. He returned home over a decade ago. After experiencing housing instability himself during a bout of serious illness. He does what he can to pressure the powers-that-be into coming to terms with the mess they’ve created.