Question 1

Who can claim a tax refund?

Accepted Answer

Any PAYE worker in Ireland who has paid income tax in the last four years. If you're employed and your tax is deducted at source, there's a good chance you're owed something — most people are.

Question 2

How far back can I claim?

Accepted Answer

Four years. So right now in 2026, you can claim for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. The 2022 window closes at the end of this year, so it's worth acting sooner rather than later.

Question 3

What's the average refund?

Accepted Answer

It varies widely, but the average Irish PAYE refund is around €1,880. Over four years, most people get back substantially more. We'll review your full record and find every cent you're owed.

Question 4

What if I've already done a tax return?

Accepted Answer

That's fine. We'll review what was claimed and check for anything that was missed. It's surprisingly common for people to file a Form 12 but leave credits and reliefs on the table.

Question 5

Can I claim if I've changed jobs?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Job changes are actually one of the most common reasons people overpay tax — emergency tax, wrong tax credits, unused rate bands. If you've switched jobs in the last four years, it's well worth checking.

Question 6

What if I was self-employed for part of the year?

Accepted Answer

If you had any mixed PAYE and self-employed income in a year, your return is more complex — but that's exactly the kind of case we handle routinely through the wider practice. Get in touch and we'll tell you straight away whether it falls under this service or whether we'd deal with it under our main tax compliance work.

Question 7

Can I claim for the current tax year?

Accepted Answer

You can tidy up some credits during the year through myAccount, but a proper PAYE balancing statement — the one that triggers most refunds — can only be filed after the year ends. For 2026, that window opens in January 2027. We'll happily take your details now and file on day one.

Question 8

Why not just do it myself on Revenue myAccount?

Accepted Answer

You absolutely can, and we'd never discourage that. But most people don't know what they can claim, miss reliefs they're entitled to, or simply never get around to it. We handle everything — and we typically find more than people expect.

Question 9

How long does it take?

Accepted Answer

Typically 3–6 weeks from the point we submit your claim. Revenue processes most straightforward PAYE refunds within 5 working days, but more complex claims can take longer.

Question 10

What do I need to provide?

Accepted Answer

Your PPS number, employer details, and receipts for any medical, dental, or other expenses. We'll tell you exactly what's needed once we review your situation — it's usually less paperwork than people expect.

Question 11

What is an agent link?

Accepted Answer

It's Revenue's official way of authorising an accountant to access your tax records. You approve it through your Revenue myAccount — we never see your login details. You can revoke it at any time.

Question 12

How do I approve the agent link?

Accepted Answer

After you submit your details, we send a request to Revenue. You'll get an email within a few minutes. Log into myAccount, go to MyEnquiries, and click Approve on the 'Agent-Client Link' message. That's it.

Question 13

What if I don't have Revenue myAccount?

Accepted Answer

You can sign up for free at revenue.ie using MyGovID — it takes about 5 minutes. You'll need it to approve our agent link and to manage your tax going forward. We'll walk you through it.

Question 14

What is the Revenue agent link, exactly?

Accepted Answer

It's Revenue's official system for authorising an accountant or agent to act on your behalf. You log into your own myAccount, confirm our firm as your agent, and that's it. We can then file on your behalf. It's audited, secure, and you can revoke access any time from within myAccount.

Question 15

Do you ever get access to my bank account?

Accepted Answer

No. Since January 2026, Revenue pays every PAYE refund directly to the taxpayer's own registered bank account. We never see your bank details and no refund ever passes through us.

Question 16

What happens after I submit my details?

Accepted Answer

You'll get a confirmation email straight away with exactly what we need from you. We'll review your Revenue record, prepare the claim, and let you know what we're submitting before it goes in. You'll get another email when the claim is lodged with Revenue.

Question 17

Does Revenue contact me directly about the claim?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Revenue will issue you a statement of liability (the formal refund calculation) in your myAccount inbox, and they'll notify you when the payment is made. We see the same statement through the agent portal so we can answer any questions you have about it.

Question 18

What do you charge?

Accepted Answer

€39 accountant review fee to get the review underway, then a success fee of 15% + VAT of whatever refund we secure, less the €39 already paid. The €39 isn't on top — it's deducted from the final fee. If the review finds nothing claimable, the €39 covers the work we've done and isn't refundable.

Question 19

What if my refund is small?

Accepted Answer

The €39 review fee is the minimum — it covers the review work. If 15% + VAT on the refund works out at less than €39, you pay nothing beyond that €39. So the total fee is always the higher of €39 or 15% + VAT of the refund, never both on top of each other. (In practice: refunds under roughly €211 are covered by the €39.)

Question 20

When do I pay the success fee?

Accepted Answer

Once Revenue has paid you. We'll invoice for the balance — 15% + VAT on the refund, less the €39 review fee you've already paid — and you settle it by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or bank transfer. Most clients clear it within a week.

Question 21

Can I pay by card?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The €39 review fee is paid by card when you submit your details, and the balance can be paid the same way. We also accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, direct debit and bank transfer if you'd prefer.

Question 22

Do you charge VAT on top of the fee?

Accepted Answer

The €39 review fee is VAT inclusive — Irish VAT at 23% is built in. The 15% success rate is quoted net of VAT, so 23% Irish VAT is added on top (e.g. on a €1,000 refund the gross fee is €184.50: €150 commission + €34.50 VAT). Your invoice will always show the VAT component broken out.

Question 23

Is this actually safe? Do I need to give you my PPS number?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it's safe. We're a firm of Chartered Certified Accountants regulated by ACCA, and we hold a TAIN (12611V) — the identifier Revenue issues to accountants authorised to file on a client's behalf. You authorise us through Revenue's official agent-link system — we never see your bank details, and Revenue pays any refund directly to you.

Question 24

Who regulates the firm?

Accepted Answer

J.G. Carlin & Co. Limited is regulated by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and we hold a TAIN (12611V) under Revenue's agent-link framework. We carry professional indemnity insurance and we're subject to AML obligations under the Criminal Justice Act 2010.

Question 25

Can I revoke your access once the claim is done?

Accepted Answer

Yes, at any time. Log into your own myAccount, go to Manage My Record → Agents, and remove the link. Your access to your Revenue record is entirely under your control.

Question 26

How long do you keep my information?

Accepted Answer

Six years from the end of the engagement — that's the minimum retention required by Irish tax and accountancy regulations. After that, records are securely destroyed. Full details are in our privacy notice.

Question 27

Can I claim medical expenses that my insurance partly covered?

Accepted Answer

Yes — you can claim 20% relief on the portion you paid yourself, after any insurance reimbursement. So if a €200 consultant fee was partly covered by VHI and you paid €80 out of pocket, the €80 is the amount to claim against.

Question 28

Can I claim the Rent Tax Credit if my tenancy isn't RTB-registered?

Accepted Answer

In most cases, yes — for private residential tenancies the RTB registration rule was relaxed for rent credit purposes. There are edge cases (digs, licences, short-term arrangements) where it gets messy, so send us the details and we'll tell you straight.

Question 29

How do flat-rate expenses work?

Accepted Answer

Revenue publishes a fixed annual deduction for a long list of occupations — nurses, teachers, shop workers, tradespeople, hairdressers, and many more. You don't need receipts, and you don't even need to apply each year once it's set up. It's one of the easiest things people miss.

Question 30

I worked from home during COVID — can I still claim?

Accepted Answer

Yes, going back four years. Relief is calculated as a percentage of your household electricity, heating, and broadband bills, pro-rated for the days you actually worked from home. Even one or two days a week over a full year adds up.

Question 31

My employer pays the €3.20/day eWorker allowance. Can I still claim remote-working relief?

Accepted Answer

You can't double-claim for the same days — but the €3.20 only covers electricity and heating, so broadband costs are still claimable, and any difference between €3.20 and your actual vouched costs can be claimed too. It's usually worth a second look.

Common questions, straightforward answers.

General.

The Process.

Fees & Payment.

Security & Data.

Specific Claims.

Still have a question?