Service charges

If you paid bin charges or local authority service charges in the previous year, you can claim a tax credit of up to €80. What you paid in 2010, you can claim in 2011.

This relief is not available for service charges paid after 2010.

Age Exemption

If you or your spouse are aged 65 or over and your income does not exceed the following limits during 2011, you will be totally exempt from income tax:

Single/Widowed: €18,000

Married (either spouse 65 or over): €36,000

Dependent Children

In 2011, the exemption limits are increased by €575 for each of your first two qualifying children and €830 for each subsequent child, if applicable.

Marginal Relief

If your total income is greater than the above low income limits, but is less than twice the limits, you are entitled to marginal relief. This relief restricts the maximum amount of tax payable to 40% of the difference between your income and the limits.

If you are 65 or older, you should read the following Revenue leaflet www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/it45.pdf  for more information on your entitlements. 

Academic Tuition Fees

Tax relief at the standard rate of tax (20%) in the tax years 2010 and 2011 is available for certain tuition fees. The maximum limit on such qualifying fees for the academic years 2010/20110 and 2011/2012 is €5,000.. For more information, go to www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/it31.html

Medical Insurance

Tax relief on medical insurance premiums paid to authorised insurers (such as VHI / Quinn Healthcare / Aviva) is given at 20% and is granted at source. This means that you pay a reduced premium of 80% to your medical insurer.

Trade Union Subscriptions

An annual flat rate allowance of €350 at the standard rate of tax 20% (tax credit €70) is available for Trade Union subscriptions paid in 2010. The full allowance is available in 2010 regardless of the actual amount of the subscription paid.

Tax relief for Trade Union subscriptions has been abolished with effect from 1 January 2011.

Mortgage Interest Relief

Tax relief for home mortgage interest (secured loans) is not given through the tax system but is instead granted at source (TRS). Mortgage repayments are reduced by the amount of the tax credit due. For example, if the interest element of your mortgage repayment per month is say €500, your mortgage lender will reduce your monthly mortgage payment by €100 per month. This reduction is the same as giving tax relief at the standard rate of tax (20%).

Make sure that you are granted these Credits/Reliefs

In many cases you will automatically be granted the tax credits and relief's you are entitled to, but in some cases you will have to inform Revenue of your entitlements. There are three main ways of doing this;

1. By Telephone/In Writing

Ring the PAYE helpline, or alternatively write to your tax office and inform them of any tax credits or relief's you qualify for but have not received. Full contact details are available on the Revenue website, www.revenue.ie Click on the Contact Locator (you will need your PPS number) or the Contact Details link.

2. Online

You can claim tax credits and reliefs on the Revenue website, including: 

> Bin charges - annual bin charges/bin tags (pay per use)

> Trade union subscriptions

> Age tax credit

> Incapacitated child tax credit

> Rent relief

> Home carer tax credit

> Dependent relative credit

For more details go to www.revenue.ie/en/personal/paye-employee.html