70% of Irish Workers are Missing Medical Expenses Tax Refund
Did you know that the average Irish person takes 3 – 5 trips to the GP per year – at an approximate medical expenses cost of €60 per trip?
Irish workers are entitled to claim tax relief at 20% on their medical expenses. However, according to our latest Taxpayer Sentiment Survey, 70% of Irish people do not claim tax back on these expenses.
The result? Thousands of euro in tax refunds is left behind every year.
There are countless reasons why Irish workers are missing out on claiming their tax back in Ireland. Many people are unaware of their entitlements while others believe claiming their refund will not be worth their time.
But when you consider that the average Irish tax refund is €1,880, it makes a lot of sense to check what you're owed by claiming back medical expenses.
And it is not just GP bills that are eligible for tax relief. On the contrary, the list of expenses that can be claimed is extensive and most Irish workers are entitled to claim a tax rebate. So, with this in mind, we have put together this quick guide to claiming your medical expenses in Ireland.
The average Irish tax refund is €1,880
Who can claim tax relief on Medical Expenses?
You can claim relief on the cost of eligible health expenses.
These can be expenses for yourself, your family or any individual's, provided you have paid for them.
The amount of tax that can be claimed back is generally at your standard rate of tax (20%), so make sure to claim tax back on medical expenses.
What medical expenses are deductible in Ireland?
Firstly, you should keep in mind that, in order to be eligible to claim tax back, your medical expenses must be carried out by a registered practitioner (for example, a doctor). The list of medical expenses which are eligible for tax relief is extensive. Below we have listed some of the most common expenses. However, it is always worth checking if you are due tax back on any medical bills you have.
1. Doctor and Consultant Fees - These fees are probably the most obvious form of medical expense. Every time you visit a GP, you can pay as much as €60 (if not more). As you're entitled to claim tax relief of 20%, you could save a total of €12 for each visit. Although you may think this is a small sum, it is easy to imagine how your tax refund can add up. You can also go back four years when claiming your refund, and if you visit the doctor four times per year, you would be due nearly €200! Not bad, right?!
2. Prescriptions – You can claim tax back on medicines and tablets prescribed by a registered practitioner or pharmacist.
3. Maternity care – New and expecting mums can claim back tax relief on the cost of maternity-related medical expenses.
What's more, if you have undergone IVF (the cost of which can range anywhere from €5,000 - €40,000) you're entitled to claim tax relief on the treatment fees at the standard rate of 20% (which means you can claim up to €8,000 back in tax – not a sum worth leaving behind!)
The average Irish tax refund is €1,880
4. Physiotherapy - As most people know, physio sessions can be quite expensive! And after a few sessions, costs really add up. Fortunately, if you need to visit a physiotherapist (provided you are referred by a doctor)
you can claim tax back.
5. Eye Care- The list of optical treatments which qualify for tax relief in Ireland is very extensive. If you've had laser eye surgery, for example, you can claim this as an expense on your tax return. However, it's important to note that you can't claim tax back for routine eyesight testing or the maintenance of glasses (or contact lenses).
6. Non-routine dental expenses - Although you can't claim tax relief on every type of dental expense such as routine check-ups and extractions) you can claim for non-routine dental expenses such as
• Crowns
• Veneers
• Root canal treatments
• Posts
• Inlays
I have health insurance. Can I claim tax back?
Many Irish workers think that if they are not entitled to tax back on their medical expenses if they have private health insurance. However, this is not the case.
You can claim tax relief on medical expenses on the excess fees if your health insurance doesn't cover all of your medical costs.
For example, if you have a medical bill of €500 and your health insurance covers €400, you can claim tax relief on the remaining €100.
The average Irish tax refund is €1,880
What do I need in order to claim tax back?
To claim for tax back for medical expenses, it's very important that you keep all your receipts and documents safe. For example, your receipts from your GP visits proving that you have paid because in order to get tax back, you must prove that you have paid for the visit/ treatment/ service etc.
If, however, you don't have a clue where any receipts are, do not panic! You can go to your GP or doctor and ask them as they will have a record of all your visits and, when claiming medical expenses in Ireland, they may be able to print off the receipts. Similarly, with prescription receipts, you can go to your pharmacy and they may have a record of your previous prescriptions.
Download your FREE Irish Tax Guide
Why choose Taxback?
Believe it or not, not everyone enjoys filling out tax returns! So, if you want to leave the boring tax paperwork to someone else, you should contact our team at Taxback. We will file your tax return in Ireland and ensure you avail of every expense and relief you're entitled to and transfer your maximum legal Irish tax refund straight to your bank account.
- It's a convenient online service. We'll do the work. You'll get the cash!
- Our team will ensure you claim every expense and relief you're entitled to.
- It's a No Refund, No Fee service - use our tax rebate calculator to see how much tax you are owed back
- Our live chat team are on hand 24/7 to support you with any questions you have.
The average Irish tax refund is €1,880
Claim your medical expenses online at Taxback today!
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