Can I claim a tax refund? 5 reasons you could be due tax back!

Have you ever claimed a tax refund before?

Many workers in Ireland miss out on their tax entitlements each year. And, as a result, thousands of euro is left behind with the taxman.

In fact, the average tax refund in Ireland is a massive €1,880!

Most workers are entitled to claim something… so it can’t hurt to check what you’re due.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with Taxback to help our members claim every tax credit, relief and expense they are entitled to.

Here are five of the most common reasons you may be due a tax refund.

1.You have paid medical or dental fees

Have you been to the doctor or dentist in the last 4 years?

For most people, the answer to that question is yes!

The good news is that tax relief is available on an extensive list of medical expenses.

So, if you have paid to visit a GP, consultant, physio or for maternity care or non-routine dental costs (such as braces or routine canal treatment) you are entitled to claim 20% of the fees back from the taxman as a refund.

2. You rent your home

In late 2022, the Irish government launched a new tax relief – the Rent Tax Credit – with the aim of supporting the thousands of property renters across Ireland.

The new Rent Tax Credit is worth €500 per year for a single individual and €1,000 for a married couple. And everyone who contributes towards the rent of a property is entitled to claim.

While the credit is available for the 2023 tax year, it can also be claimed for 2022.

So, if you rented your home in 2022, be sure to claim this valuable credit.

3. You bought special dietary foods

Buying coeliac friendly food can be expensive!

Thankfully, there is tax relief to be claimed! The relief is 20% of your expenses incurred, this can work out as quite a big tax refund throughout the tax year.

To avail of the tax relief, the first thing you need to do is to get a letter (a prescription will not suffice) from your doctor or GP which confirms your coeliac diagnosis.

Although you don’t need to upload receipts at the time of claiming your tax relief, you should still keep the receipts for all gluten-free products that you’ve purchased for 6 years, this is in case Revenue choose you for an audit.

4.You worked from home

Did you know that if you work from home you can claim tax back on your utility bills?

It’s true! Tax relief is available on electricity, heating, and broadband costs.

To qualify you must work from home either full or part-time and contribute toward the cost of the bills.

5. Flat rate expenses

A Flat Rate Expense is a type of tax relief or tax credit that is available to thousands of workers in Ireland across a wide range of occupations.

The aim behind 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 – and exactly how much you can claim will depend on your job.

For example, shop assistants are entitled to claim €121, bar staff can avail of €93 and nurses are due €526. So be sure to check out what you can claim.

How to claim your tax back

Coeliac Society of Ireland have partnered with Taxback to help you claim your maximum tax refund easily online.

Taxback have been the Irish tax experts since 1996.

And when you apply, their team will guide you through the process of claiming your tax entitlements. They will manage the paperwork for you and even transfer your money straight to your bank account. It really is that easy.

And the best part? Our members also get a 10% discount with Taxback.

So why leave your money with the taxman?

To get started, simply complete the short form here or WhatsApp “CSI” to 087 953 6881

Important tax information for Coeliac Society of Ireland members

If you are a coeliac and purchase gluten free foods due to your condition, you will be entitled to claim tax relief. Here we outline how to claim tax back on your medical expenses

Health expenses are probably the most common type of tax relief in Ireland.

In short, taxpayers are entitled to claim a tax refund on a wide range of medical expenses such as visits to the GP or consultant, maternity and infertility treatment, prescriptions, physio and much more.

Dietary requirements can also be considered eligible for tax relief. For example, diabetic patients and coeliacs can claim a tax refund where they are required to purchase specific foods due to their condition.

Tax relief is available at 20% on the total cost. And, if you have never claimed a tax refund before, you can go back four years when applying.

In other words, if you spend €200 each year on gluten free foods, you would be entitled to a tax refund of €160 over a four-year period.

Aside from medical expenses, there are many other reasons why you could be due a tax refund. For example, you will be due tax back if you work from home, got married recently, paid rent and lots more.

The average tax refund in Ireland is €1,880. So with that in mind, it is always a good idea to check if you are due a tax refund.

What do I need when claiming tax relief on my gluten free foods?

In order to claim your tax back, you will need to keep your receipts (for example from supermarkets or health food stores) for the gluten free food which you have purchased.

Similarly, if you would like to claim tax relief on the cost of your GP bills, you will need to keep the receipts you received from the doctor.

How can I check if I am due a tax refund?

You can apply for a refund directly from Revenue.

However, many people are unsure of their tax entitlements or how to go about claiming what they’re owed. This results in thousands of euro in tax relief going unclaimed each year.

For this reason, the Coeliac Society of Ireland has partnered with Taxback to support you in claiming your tax entitlements.

When you sign up here, the Taxback team will conduct a comprehensive four-year review of your tax situation and support you in claiming every tax credit, relief and expense you’re entitled to.

It’s a simple online process and Taxback will take care of all of the paperwork for you. And, if you are due a tax refund, they will transfer your money straight to your bank account.

Finally, the Taxback service is ‘no refund, no fee’ – so you will not be charged if you discover that you are not owed a refund.

What’s more, Coeliac Society of Ireland members can avail of a 10% discount on their Taxback tax assessment.

To get started, simply complete the short form here or WhatsApp “CSI” to 087 953 6881