Who's likely due a refund
You're overpaying if you're entitled to tax credits that Revenue doesn't know about. The most common reasons: you paid rent (Rent Tax Credit: €1,000–€2,000/year), had medical expenses (20–40% relief), claimed an occupation-specific flat-rate expense (nurses €733, teachers €518), worked from home but aren't claiming WFH credit, or changed jobs mid-year.
Another reason: you may have been given a generic tax credit certificate that doesn't reflect your actual credits. Revenue often under-allocates, especially for new employees.
How to check if you're due a refund
Sign in to your Revenue MyAccount at revenue.ie. Go to 'PAYE Services' and select 'Review your tax' for the year you want to check. You'll see a Statement of Liability showing your tax paid vs. tax owed. If you paid more, the statement shows an overpayment ('Credit').
You can check the last 4 years: 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. If you haven't claimed before, you likely have refunds waiting.
How to claim your refund
If your Statement of Liability shows an overpayment, Revenue automatically processes the refund within 5–10 working days to your bank account (the one registered in MyAccount). You don't need to submit a claim; it's automatic once you review your tax.
If you owe additional tax credits (like Rent Credit or medical expenses) that you haven't claimed, you'll need to add them in MyAccount first, then review your tax again. Once you do, the refund recalculates automatically.
Common refund triggers (don't leave money behind)
Rent Tax Credit: €1,000 (single) or €2,000 (joint) per year if you pay private rent. Backdate 4 years — some people claim €8,000+ if they paid rent for years without claiming.
Medical expenses: 20% relief on GP, consultant, prescription; 40% on nursing home care. Claim any unreimbursed expenses.
Flat-rate expenses: If your job is on Revenue's list (nurses, teachers, police, etc.), you can claim without receipts. Usually €400–€800/year.
WFH relief: CentSmart calculates this automatically, but if you're self-calculating, claim 30% of electricity, heating, broadband for WFH days.
Next steps
Sign in to MyAccount and review your last 4 years now. If you see credits, apply them and re-review. If you see an overpayment, note the amount — it'll be refunded automatically within 10 days.
Use the CentSmart Salary Calculator to double-check your current year's tax position and ensure you're not overpaying going forward.