How MyTaxRebate Processes Medical Expense Claims in Ireland

Reviewed by: MyTaxRebate Team on 10 Mar 2026 | Authority: s.469 TCA 1997

Quick Answer

MyTaxRebate reviews your receipts, identifies every qualifying health expense across up to four years, coordinates any missing documentation (including Med 2 forms), and submits a comprehensive claim through Revenue's your Revenue record on your behalf. We only charge a fee where we successfully recover a refund. MyTaxRebate reviews all four open claim years - 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 - in a single engagement. Claims are processed through your Revenue record using the Med 1 and Med 2 forms as appropriate. The entire process takes an average of 5 to 10 business days from submission to Revenue approval for straightforward claims.

What This Page Covers

• ✓Reviews all qualifying and non-qualifying costs
• ✓Coordinates missing documentation (Med 2, referral letters)
• ✓Submits claims across up to four backdated years
• ✓Handles Revenue correspondence and compliance queries
• ✓Upload receipts to our secure portal
• ✓Confirm eLink authorisation with Revenue
• ✓We review, prepare, and submit your claim
• ✓Receive refund directly from Revenue to your bank account

Key Facts at a Glance

• ✓No fee unless we recover a refund - there is no upfront cost and no fee if the claim yields nothing. Our percentage fee is disclosed before work begins.
• ✓We review up to four tax years in a single engagement - most first-time clients recover significantly more than they expected once all years are combined.
• ✓We handle the Revenue eLink agent authorisation on your behalf, allowing us to access and submit claims directly through Revenue's your Revenue record.
• ✓We coordinate Med 2 forms and GP referral letters you may be missing - contacting dental practices and GP surgeries for retrospective documentation is part of our standard review.
• ✓Revenue typically processes refunds and issues payment within a few weeks of a successful claim submission, directly to your bank account.
• ✓We handle all Revenue correspondence during the claim period, including any compliance check requests or queries about submitted expenses.
• ✓Claims can be backdated up to four years - 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 are all currently open.

How the MyTaxRebate process works for medical expense claims

MyTaxRebate handles Irish PAYE tax refund claims on behalf of individuals and families, including health expenses claims under section 469 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The process is designed to minimise the time and effort required from you while maximising the qualifying amounts identified and claimed.

Our service operates on a no-refund, no-fee basis -  we only charge a fee where we successfully recover a refund on your behalf. There is no upfront cost, no obligation, and no minimum claim size. We review your full tax position, not just medical expenses, to ensure you receive every refund you are entitled to.

What we need from you

To begin a medical expenses claim, we need the receipts and invoices for all qualifying health expenses you paid during the period being reviewed. This includes:

You can provide these documents by uploading photographs directly to our secure online portal, by emailing scans or photos, or by posting originals if preferred. We can also work with receipts already stored in Revenue's Receipts Tracker inside your your Revenue record.

• GP and consultant visit receipts
• Pharmacy receipts for prescribed medications
• Hospital invoices (private hospital or outpatient charges)
• Physiotherapy receipts (where treatment was GP-referred)
• Form Med 2 completed by your dentist for non-routine dental treatment
• Any other qualifying health expense receipts

How we identify qualifying and non-qualifying costs

Our team reviews every receipt you provide against the qualifying rules in Revenue's Tax and Duty Manual Part 15-01-12. We identify which expenses qualify for relief, which do not, and what documentation may be missing or incomplete. Common issues we resolve include: receipts from physiotherapy without evidence of a GP referral, dental invoices where a Med 2 has not been obtained, and prescription costs where insurance reimbursement needs to be deducted.

Where documentation is incomplete, we contact you with specific requests -  for example, asking you to obtain a Med 2 from your dentist for a particular treatment, or to confirm whether an insurance payment was received for a specific expense. We do not submit claims based on incomplete or unverifiable documentation.

Timeline and payment

After submitting a health expenses claim, Revenue typically processes and issues refunds within a few days to a few weeks, depending on the current processing volumes. Refunds are paid directly to the bank account associated with your Revenue record. We confirm when each claim has been submitted and follow up with you when the refund has been issued.

Our fee is deducted from the refund amount -  we never ask for payment upfront or before a refund has been confirmed. Our fee structure is published on our website and agreed with you before we begin work on your claim.

What happens to your receipts once submitted

When you submit your health expense documents to MyTaxRebate, each receipt is reviewed for completeness and eligibility before anything is submitted to Revenue. We check that every receipt shows the patient name, practitioner name, date of treatment, and amount charged - the four details Revenue requires to accept a health expense claim. Any receipt that is unclear or missing information is flagged and we contact you for a replacement or clarification before proceeding.

Once we have a complete and verified set of qualifying expenses, we submit the health expenses claim on your behalf through Revenue's agent access system. Revenue then processes the claim and issues the refund directly to your bank account - typically within two to four weeks of submission for straightforward PAYE cases, though Revenue's processing times can vary at busy periods such as after the January self-assessment deadline. We notify you as soon as the refund has been confirmed and processed, and our fee is deducted from the refund at that point.

You retain your original receipts throughout this process. We do not require you to send originals - scanned copies or clear photographs are sufficient. Revenue may in some cases select a claim for a compliance check, in which case they will write to you directly requesting the original documentation. This is why the six-year retention rule is important: your receipts should be kept safely for six years from the date of the claim, regardless of whether the claim has already been processed and the refund received.

How long does the refund take?

For PAYE workers making a year-end review the tax position position position claim through your Revenue record, Revenue's published target is to process claims within two weeks of submission. In practice, straightforward health expense claims submitted outside of peak periods (January and October) are often processed faster. Claims involving nursing home fees, which qualify at the marginal rate and can involve larger refund amounts, may be reviewed by Revenue before processing, which can add additional time. MyTaxRebate monitors all submitted claims and will follow up with Revenue if processing is delayed beyond the expected timeframe.

Step-by-step: how a MyTaxRebate medical claim works

Step 1 - Upload your documents. You upload receipts, pharmacy statements, consultant invoices, physiotherapy receipts (with GP referral), and Med 2 forms to our secure portal. You can also email or photograph documents if preferred. We confirm receipt and flag anything obviously missing before proceeding. Step 2 - Authorise MyTaxRebate as your agent. We send you the Revenue eLink authorisation form. Once signed and returned, we submit the agent link registration to Revenue. Revenue registers the link within one to two business days, granting MyTaxRebate access to file claims on your behalf through the Revenue online system. You retain full control and can revoke access at any time through your Revenue record. Step 3 - We review all documents against s.469 TCA 1997 rules. Every expense is checked against the qualifying rules in Revenue's Tax and Duty Manual Part 15-01-12. We identify which costs qualify, which are excluded, and what documentation is incomplete or missing. We calculate the net qualifying amount after deducting any insurance reimbursements. This step typically takes two to five business days depending on claim complexity. Step 4 - We resolve documentation gaps. Where a Med 2 is missing for dental treatment, we liaise with your dental practice to obtain it. Where a physiotherapy course lacks a written GP referral, we alert you and advise on how to obtain it retrospectively where possible. We do not proceed to submission until each qualifying expense is fully supported by documentation. Step 5 - We submit the claim through Revenue's your Revenue record. We file a separate Health Expense return for each year being claimed (up to four years). Each year's qualifying expenses are entered accurately, with nursing home costs flagged for marginal rate relief under s.467 where applicable. We confirm submission and provide you with the outcome for each year. Step 6 - Revenue processes the return and issues the refund. Revenue typically acknowledges a filed Health Expense return within a few business days. The Calculation result (confirming the refund amount) normally appears in your Revenue record within one to seven business days of submission. Revenue then issues the refund directly to the bank account registered on your Revenue record. Most refunds arrive within two to four weeks of submission, though some can take longer during peak filing periods. Step 7 - Our fee is deducted. Once the Revenue refund has been issued, our agreed fee is charged. If Revenue does not issue a refund, no fee applies. We provide a clear breakdown showing the refund received, our fee, and your net benefit.

• Step 1 - Upload your documents. You upload receipts, pharmacy statements, consultant invoices, physiotherapy receipts (with GP referral), and Med 2 forms to our secure portal. You can also email or photograph documents if preferred. We confirm receipt and flag anything obviously missing before proceeding.
• Step 2 - Authorise MyTaxRebate as your agent. We send you the Revenue eLink authorisation form. Once signed and returned, we submit the agent link registration to Revenue. Revenue registers the link within one to two business days, granting MyTaxRebate access to file claims on your behalf through the Revenue online system. You retain full control and can revoke access at any time through your Revenue record.
• Step 3 - We review all documents against s.469 TCA 1997 rules. Every expense is checked against the qualifying rules in Revenue's Tax and Duty Manual Part 15-01-12. We identify which costs qualify, which are excluded, and what documentation is incomplete or missing. We calculate the net qualifying amount after deducting any insurance reimbursements. This step typically takes two to five business days depending on claim complexity.
• Step 4 - We resolve documentation gaps. Where a Med 2 is missing for dental treatment, we liaise with your dental practice to obtain it. Where a physiotherapy course lacks a written GP referral, we alert you and advise on how to obtain it retrospectively where possible. We do not proceed to submission until each qualifying expense is fully supported by documentation.
• Step 5 - We submit the claim through Revenue's your Revenue record. We file a separate Health Expense return for each year being claimed (up to four years). Each year's qualifying expenses are entered accurately, with nursing home costs flagged for marginal rate relief under s.467 where applicable. We confirm submission and provide you with the outcome for each year.
• Step 6 - Revenue processes the return and issues the refund. Revenue typically acknowledges a filed Health Expense return within a few business days. The Calculation result (confirming the refund amount) normally appears in your Revenue record within one to seven business days of submission. Revenue then issues the refund directly to the bank account registered on your Revenue record. Most refunds arrive within two to four weeks of submission, though some can take longer during peak filing periods.
• Step 7 - Our fee is deducted. Once the Revenue refund has been issued, our agreed fee is charged. If Revenue does not issue a refund, no fee applies. We provide a clear breakdown showing the refund received, our fee, and your net benefit.

What triggers a Revenue compliance query on a health expenses claim

Revenue operates a risk-based compliance framework for health expense returns filed through your Revenue record. Most claims are processed without any queries. However, Revenue's systems flag certain patterns for review, and being aware of these helps ensure your claim is submitted in a way that withstands scrutiny.

The most common triggers for a Revenue compliance check on a health expense claim include:

If Revenue issues a compliance query on a claim we have submitted, MyTaxRebate handles the correspondence on your behalf, provides Revenue with the requested documentation, and resolves the query as part of our ongoing service. All qualifying expenses we submit are evidenced by documentation we have already reviewed, which is why our claims typically resolve compliance checks without adjustment.

• Overclaiming medical costs already covered by a health insurer - if the expenses declared appear high relative to what Revenue knows about your insurer payments or insurer data it receives, Revenue may request evidence that the full amount was personally paid.
• Large nursing home expense claims without evidence of the personal contribution calculation - where a significant nursing home claim is filed, Revenue may ask for the nursing home invoice showing the personal contribution column as distinct from the HSE-funded amount.
• Unusual expense categories or high-value single expenses - a single large expense such as an overseas medical procedure, a fertility treatment cycle, or an expensive surgical appliance may prompt Revenue to verify the documentation through a compliance check.
• Claiming the same type of expense across multiple years with no variation - identical claim amounts filed for the same category across several years without any supporting documentation change may prompt a review.
• Physiotherapy or chiropractic claims without GP referral documentation being verifiable - Revenue's review processes are increasingly sophisticated in flagging manual therapy claims where no referral pathway is evident.

Timeline: from document submission to refund in your account

Stage What Happens Typical Duration Document upload You upload receipts and documents to our secure portal Same day eLink authorisation You sign the agent authorisation; Revenue registers the agent link 1 - 2 business days Document review MyTaxRebate reviews all documents against Part 15-01-12 qualifying rules 2 - 5 business days Documentation gaps Any missing Med 2 forms or referral letters are resolved 1 - 5 business days (if needed) Claim submission Health Expense returns filed through your Revenue record for each year Same day (once all docs resolved) Revenue processing Revenue calculates and issues the refund to your registered bank account 2 - 4 weeks (typically) Fee charged Our agreed fee is applied once the refund is confirmed received After refund receipt

Tax Scenarios

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• ✗Thinking incomplete records mean you cannot claim - most documentation gaps can be resolved by contacting providers for duplicate invoices. GP practices, pharmacies, hospitals, and dental practices retain records for at least six years and can typically reissue receipts or statements on request within a few days.
• ✗Not engaging a professional review and missing significant qualifying costs - self-filing through your Revenue record requires you to know which expenses qualify, which require a Med 2 or referral letter, and how to handle nursing home marginal rate calculations. Missed categories are the most common reason self-filed claims produce lower refunds than expected.
• ✗Including insurance-reimbursed amounts in the claim - whether filing independently or through an agent, only the out-of-pocket, personally-paid balance qualifies under s.469 TCA 1997. Including the gross invoice amount when an insurer covered part of the cost is the most common trigger for Revenue compliance queries.
• ✗Claiming for only one year when up to four are available - Revenue's four-year backdating window means a first engagement with MyTaxRebate typically reviews 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 in a single process. Claiming only the current year leaves three years of refunds unclaimed.
• ✗Not having a Med 2 form for non-routine dental claims - crowns, orthodontics, root canal treatment, and periodontal procedures all require a dentist-signed Med 2. Without it, the dental expense cannot be submitted, regardless of the amount involved. MyTaxRebate coordinates the Med 2 with your dental practice as part of the claim preparation process.

When This Does Not Apply

Key Takeaways

• ➤ ➤ No-fee-unless-we-recover means there is no financial risk in engaging MyTaxRebate -  you only pay from the refund we secure.
• ➤ ➤ A first-time review typically covers four years of expenses for your entire household -  most clients recover more than they expected.
• ➤ ➤ We handle all Revenue correspondence, including any compliance check requests, as part of the claim management process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Guides

• what medical expenses qualify for relief
• what documents and receipts we need
• how backdating a four-year claim works
• tips for maximising your medical expenses refund