Claiming Your PAYE Tax Back for the First Time
If you've been PAYE in Ireland for a year or more and never claimed anything back, chances are Revenue is holding onto money that's yours. Here's exactly what to do the first time.
Register on myAccount
Head to revenue.ie and set up a myAccount if you haven't already. You need your PPS number and a recent Revenue reference — the easiest is your PAYE Statement of Liability, but a Tax Credit Certificate works too.
Request Statements of Liability for each year
Under 'Review your tax', request a Statement of Liability for each of the last 4 years. Revenue reconciles your PAYE and tells you if you've over- or underpaid.
Add every credit you're entitled to
Rent Tax Credit, medical expenses, remote working relief, flat-rate expenses, tuition. Each has its own tile in myAccount. Add them for every year they applied.
Wait for the refund
Refunds typically land in your bank account within 5 working days once Revenue processes the amended return. If a year underpaid, they take it from a future year's credits — no scary bill.