How much can you claim?
The refund is the lowest of three figures:
| Limit | Meaning |
|---|---|
| €30,000 | The maximum Help to Buy refund. |
| 10% of the property value | 10% of the purchase price for a new home, or 10% of the approved valuation for a self-build. |
| Tax paid | The Income Tax and DIRT you paid in the four years before your application. |
Source: Revenue.ie — How much can you claim?
Who qualifies?
You must be a first-time buyer. If you are buying with another person, every purchaser must be a first-time buyer. The property must be a new residential property or self-build that you will live in as your main home.
You must also be tax compliant. If you are PAYE, this usually means filing any required income tax returns and receiving Statements of Liability for the years you want Revenue to include.
Property rules
The home must be newly built or self-built. It does not apply to second-hand homes. If you are buying from a developer, the contractor must be Revenue approved for Help to Buy. If you are self-building, your solicitor verifies the claim.
You must live in the property as your home for five years after purchase or completion. Revenue can claw back some or all of the refund if the conditions are broken.
How to apply
Apply through Revenue myAccount or ROS. The process has two parts: an application stage, where Revenue confirms the maximum refund available to you, and a claim stage, where the property details are verified before the refund is paid.
For a new build, the refund is normally paid to the qualifying contractor. For a self-build, it is normally paid to your solicitor's client account.
Common mistakes
People often overestimate their refund by counting USC or PRSI, assuming the full €30,000 is automatic, or forgetting that everyone on the purchase must be a first-time buyer. Another common issue is not having tax returns complete for the four years Revenue needs to check.