If you've changed jobs in Ireland over the past four years, there's a strong chance you're owed a tax refund. Job changes are the most common cause of tax overpayment—thanks to emergency tax that kicks in when you start a new position.
Our specialists have recovered millions in overpaid tax for people who've changed jobs. The average refund is €1,080—but those with multiple job changes often receive significantly more.
📊 Job Change Tax Refund Facts
- Main cause: Emergency tax at new job
- Typical overpayment: €500 – €1,500 per job change
- Multiple changes: Compound the refund
- Claim period: 4 years (2021-2024)
Why Job Changes Cause Tax Overpayment
When you start a new job, your employer needs tax instructions from Revenue to pay you correctly. Until those arrive, you're placed on emergency tax—a temporary measure that results in you paying significantly more tax than normal.
On emergency tax:
- Your tax credits are reduced or not applied at all
- More of your income is taxed at higher rates
- You can lose €100-€300+ per week to excess tax
Even if emergency tax only lasts 4-6 weeks, the overpayment can easily exceed €1,000.
Multiple Job Changes = Bigger Refunds
Each new employer can trigger emergency tax again. If you've changed jobs multiple times over four years—common in industries like retail, hospitality, tech, and healthcare—the overpayments multiply.
We review your complete employment history for all four claimable years, identifying every period of emergency tax regardless of how many employers you've had.
💡 Real Example
Tom worked for four different companies between 2021 and 2024. Each time he started, he was on emergency tax for 4-8 weeks before it was sorted. His combined emergency tax overpayment: €2,780. With rent credit and medical expenses added, his total refund was €4,320.
Signs You Were on Emergency Tax
You may have been on emergency tax if:
- Your first payslips at a new job showed "EMERG", "Week 1", or "Month 1"
- Your take-home pay seemed unusually low
- Tax credits on your payslip showed €0 or very low amounts
- You started without having your PPS number registered with Revenue
Even if you're not sure, our review will identify any emergency tax periods in your history.
Other Reliefs When Changing Jobs
Emergency tax refunds are often just part of what you're owed. We also check for:
- Rent tax credit – up to €1,000/year if you rent
- Medical expenses – 20% relief on healthcare costs
- Work expenses – flat rate allowances for many professions
- Working from home – if you work remotely
How Much Could You Get Back?
Why Use Our Service?
Our specialists handle job change refunds every day:
- Complete employment review: We trace every job for the past 4 years
- All overpayments found: Emergency tax, Week 1 basis, and credit issues
- Additional reliefs: We find everything else you're owed too
- No refund, no fee: You only pay if we get you money back
Learn more about how our process works.
Changed Jobs? Find Out What You're Owed
Our experts will review all your employments and claim back every cent of overpaid tax.
Start Your Free Review →No refund, no fee • Average refund €1,080 • TAIN: 77632V
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I changed jobs years ago?
You can claim for up to four years. Even job changes from 2021 can still result in refunds if you were overtaxed and never claimed it back.
Will claiming affect my current job?
No, claiming back overpaid tax from previous periods doesn't affect your current employment or tax situation. It's simply recovering money you shouldn't have paid.
How quickly can I get my refund?
Once we submit your claim, Revenue typically processes refunds within 5-10 working days. The money is paid directly to your bank account.