Serving Immigrants Across Ireland
You moved to Ireland.
The tax system is confusing — and most immigrants are paying more than they should.
Between emergency tax, missed credits, split-year relief and the difference between PAYE and self-employment — the Irish tax system leaves most immigrants overpaying or underpaying without realising it. We specialise in exactly this. We work in your language, explain every step, and make sure you get back everything you're owed.
Talk to us on WhatsAppWhich situation describes you?
You work for an employer (PAYE)
Your employer deducts tax from your wages. You may be owed a refund if you were on emergency tax, claimed wrong credits, or paid for medical expenses, college fees or rent.
You work for yourself
Delivery, cleaning, childminding, construction, hair, nails or any other self-employed work. You must register with Revenue and file a Form 11 each year.
You just arrived in Ireland
Split-year relief means you may only owe tax on income earned after your arrival date — not the whole year. Most accountants miss this for immigrants.
You have income from another country
Ireland taxes residents on worldwide income. Foreign income must be declared — but tax treaties may prevent you from paying tax twice.
You haven't filed in years
Many immigrants don't realise they needed to file. We handle prior years, register you if needed, and negotiate with Revenue where possible.
You want to open a business
We handle company formation, business registration, payroll setup and all ongoing compliance for immigrants starting a business in Ireland.
Delivered within 24 business hours of receiving your documents and confirmed payment.
What immigrants in Ireland miss most often
- Emergency tax: arriving in Ireland, many workers are placed on emergency tax and never claim it back — sometimes hundreds or thousands of euros.
- Split-year relief: if you arrived mid-year, you may only owe Irish tax from your arrival date. Revenue won't apply this automatically.
- Rent Tax Credit: up to €2,000 per year for tenants. Most immigrants don't know it exists or forget to claim it.
- Medical expenses: 20% refund on qualifying health costs. No minimum amount. Most immigrants never claim it.
- Incorrect tax credits at employer: if your employer applied the wrong credits, you've likely overpaid. A refund claim corrects this.
- Self-employed immigrants not registering: working for platforms like Uber Eats, Bolt or Just Eat without registering with Revenue leads to penalties and interest on top of any tax owed.
- Declaring foreign income: income from your home country while tax resident in Ireland must be declared. Undeclared foreign income can trigger Revenue investigations.
- Missing the October 31st self-assessment deadline: the surcharge is 5% of your tax bill, even if the return is only slightly late.
Tax reliefs and credits you may be entitled to
These are the most commonly missed reliefs for immigrants on PAYE in Ireland.
Rent Tax Credit
Up to €1,000 per person (€2,000 for couples) per year for private renters. Applies for 2022 onwards.
Medical Expenses
20% back on qualifying health costs: GP visits, prescriptions, dental, consultant fees, physio and more.
Flat Rate Expenses
Certain professions qualify for a standard annual deduction — nurses, teachers, construction workers and others.
Tuition Fees Relief
20% tax back on qualifying third-level fees — applies to part-time courses and full-time courses above the grant threshold.
Working from Home
If your employer does not pay a home-working allowance, you can claim 30% of utility costs for days worked at home.
Home Carer Credit
Available to married or civil-partnered couples where one partner cares for a dependent person at home.
Single Person Child Carer
If you are a single parent and the primary carer, this credit reduces your tax bill by up to €1,650 per year.
Why immigrants choose D'Emilia Accounting
- We work in Portuguese, Spanish, Italian and English — you don't have to navigate Revenue in a second language
- We specialise in immigrants: we know the credits that get missed, the reliefs that apply from day one, and the deadlines that matter
- Fixed, transparent fees — confirmed before we start, no surprises
- Most returns and refund claims completed within 24 business hours
- We deal with Revenue directly — no queues, no calls, no anxiety
- Prior year backlogs sorted from scratch — no judgement, just results
Haven't filed for previous years? We sort it.
Whether you missed one year or several, we handle the full process: calculate what you owe, identify any refunds owed to you, file with Revenue and bring your record up to date. The sooner you do it, the lower the penalties.
Clear pricing — no surprises
Fixed fees. Always confirmed before we start.
Not sure where you stand? Start here.
First consultation is free. Tell us your situation on WhatsApp and we'll tell you what you're owed and what you need to do — in plain language.
Start on WhatsApp — it's freeFrequently asked questions
Do immigrants have to pay tax in Ireland?
Yes. If you are tax resident in Ireland — generally meaning you spend 183 or more days in Ireland in a tax year — you are liable to pay Irish tax on your worldwide income. This includes employment income, self-employment income and income from abroad. Ireland has double taxation agreements with many countries, which means you typically won't pay tax twice on the same income.
What is emergency tax and can I get it back?
Emergency tax is applied by employers when they do not yet have your tax details registered with Revenue. It results in a higher deduction than necessary. You can reclaim all overpaid emergency tax by registering with Revenue, linking your employment, and filing a claim — usually through myAccount on the Revenue website. We handle this for you.
What is split-year relief and do I qualify?
Split-year relief applies to people who moved to or from Ireland during a tax year. If you arrived in Ireland mid-year, you may only be liable for Irish tax on income earned from your arrival date — not the full year. If you left Ireland mid-year, the same relief may apply for the departure portion. Revenue does not apply this automatically; you must claim it on your tax return.
I work for a delivery platform. Do I need to register as self-employed?
Yes. If you work for Uber Eats, Bolt, Just Eat, Deliveroo or any similar platform as a contractor (rather than as an employee), you are self-employed and must register with Revenue and file a Form 11 tax return each year. The platforms report your earnings directly to Revenue, so failure to register does not mean Revenue doesn't know you're working.
Can I claim tax back if I paid medical expenses?
Yes. Revenue allows a 20% tax credit on qualifying non-routine medical expenses: GP visits, consultant fees, prescriptions, dental treatment (not routine), physiotherapy, hospital stays and more. You claim this through your annual tax return or through myAccount. There is no minimum threshold.
How far back can I claim a tax refund?
Revenue allows refund claims going back 4 years. So in 2026, you can claim back to 2022. If you overpaid through PAYE or missed credits such as rent, medical expenses or flat-rate expenses, a claim for all eligible years can result in a significant refund in a single payment.
Do I need to declare income I earned in my home country?
If you are tax resident in Ireland, yes. Ireland taxes residents on their worldwide income. Income earned abroad — whether from employment, rental property or investments — must generally be declared on your Irish tax return. However, if Ireland has a double taxation treaty with your home country, you may receive a credit for tax already paid there. We handle these declarations for clients from Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Italy and many other countries.