Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
169. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to provide an update on financial support for renters, given that rental inflation is at its highest level on record; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39764/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraA range of supports, both tax based and direct expenditure, are available to renters. Direct expenditure measures are, in the first instance, matters for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Minister for Social Protection.
In relation tax based supports for renters, the Rent Tax Credit (RTC) was introduced by the Finance Act 2022 and may be claimed by taxpayer units in respect of qualifying rent paid in 2022 and subsequent years to end-2028.
The value of the credit for 2022 and 2023 was €500 for a singly assessed individual and €1,000 for a jointly assessed couple. For later years, the value of the credit increased to €1,000 for a singly assessed individual and €2,000 for a jointly assessed couple.
A taxpayer unit is either an individual with any personal status who is singly assessed or a couple in a marriage or civil partnership who have elected for joint assessment, in which case they are counted as one taxpayer unit.
The extent to which a claimant benefits from a tax credit, through a reduced tax liability and/or receipt of a refund for overpayment of a tax liability, is determined by their gross tax liability and the use of other tax credits and reliefs.
I am informed by Revenue that 313,980 taxpayer units claimed the RTC for 2022, with 273,160 of these taxpayer units benefitting from it, while in relation to 2023, 354,110 taxpayer units claimed the RTC, with 315,030 taxpayer units befitting from it. These numbers include both PAYE and self-assessed taxpayer units. In 2022 the Exchequer cost was some €156.4 million, and in 2023 some €183.5 million.
As on 19 May 2026, 335,969, 296,898 and 64,122 PAYE taxpayers had claimed the RTC for 2024, 2025 and 2026 respectively. It should be noted that most claims for credits by PAYE taxpayers take place after the year-end and it is expected that the number of claims for 2025 by PAYE taxpayers will continue to increase throughout 2026. PAYE taxpayers have 4 years in which to make a claim.
The data on claims by self-assessed taxpayers is not yet available for 2024, 2025 and 2026. Data in relation to 2024 is scheduled for release later in 2026, once the 2024 Form 11 returns has been processed and data is prepared for statistical analysis. Data availability in relation to later years will follow a similar pattern.
The estimated tax costs for the years 2024, 2025 and 2026 are not yet available. The cost to the exchequer is only determined when data for all taxpayer types is available, including self-assessed taxpayers. Data on the tax cost for 2024 will be available in Q3 of this year and will be published on the Revenue website at www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/tax-expenditures/cost/index.aspx. The filing deadline for self-assessed taxpayers in relation to 2025 is November 2026, and in relation to 2026 is November 2027, and therefore the data is not available for analysis in relation to these years.
The Programme for Government commits to progressively increase the RTC. Decisions regarding taxation measures are made in the context of the annual Budget and Finance Bill processes, at the appropriate time, and having regard to available resources and the sound management of the public finances.
Finally, it is a longstanding practice of the Minister for Finance not to comment in advance of the Budget on any tax matters which might be the subject of Budget decisions.
