In short
Health insurance premiums get tax relief at 20%, on up to €1,000 per adult and €500 per child each year. Usually your insurer takes it off the premium at source, so you don't need to do anything. But if your employer pays your health insurance, the relief isn't given at source and you have to claim it yourself. Many people never do.
How it works
- You pay your own policy: the insurer deducts 20% relief from your premium. Nothing to claim.
- Your employer pays: the premium is a taxable benefit-in-kind on your payslip, and you claim the 20% relief back through myAccount.
How much it's worth
| Maximum premium relieved per adult | €1,000 |
| Maximum premium relieved per child | €500 |
| Maximum relief per adult a year (20% of €1,000) | €200 |
For a family policy paid by an employer, it can be worth several hundred euro a year, and you can claim back four years.
Get your tax back for missed years
Missed the health insurance relief? You can still get the tax back as a tax refund for every year since 2022.
For the current year, add the credit in myAccount and it comes through your pay. For earlier years, it's claimed in the income tax return for each year.
Common questions
How do I know if my employer pays my health insurance?
Check your payslip for a benefit-in-kind or "notional pay" amount for medical insurance, or ask your HR or payroll team.
Does dental insurance count?
Relief applies to approved non-routine dental insurance policies ◆. Routine dental cover usually doesn't qualify.
Sources
Revenue: Medical insurance relief, including policies paid by your employer, on revenue.ie. Confirm the child-premium definition and dental insurance rules before publishing ◆.
Questions for Revenue directly? Call the PAYE helpline on 01 738 3636 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 1.30pm), or see all Revenue contact numbers.
General information, not advice on your own situation. TaxMind checks your record before filing anything.
