Claiming a tax refund

There may be times you end up paying too much tax! 

It’s fair to say that no one wants to end up in this situation, so in this case it's important to check your payslip and Employment Summary details.

You could end up with an overpayment of tax if:

• You got taxable benefits from the Department of Social Protection and the tax paid was calculated incorrectly by your employer, i.e. 
• Your personal circumstances changed during the year (marital status or if you claimed tax credits and relief you were actually not entitled to)
• You switched jobs during the year

The good news is you can go back four tax years to claim your refund.

Claiming your tax refund

Think you’re due tax back? Great! 

Remember, you can go back up to four years to claim a refund. So for example, if you want a tax refund from 2021, then 2025 is your last year to make this claim.

However, you will not be able to claim a tax refund from 2020 if you wait until 2025 to claim it back as the four year limit will have passed.

Just remember that the deadline for filing your tax return is 31 October each year (this date is extended if paying and filing with Taxback and the Revenue online service). It's important to keep receipts for things like medical expenses in case Revenue ever requests them from you.