Student Intern Tax Refund Guide Ireland

Completed an internship in Ireland? Whether it was a summer placement, a college work experience requirement, or a gap year position, there's a high chance you overpaid tax. Most interns are placed on emergency tax when they start, losing hundreds of euros they're entitled to claim back.

Our specialists have helped thousands of interns recover overpaid tax—often the entire amount that was deducted. The process is straightforward when you know what you're doing, and our team handles everything for you.

Why Do Interns Overpay Tax?

The number one reason is simple: emergency tax. When you start any new job in Ireland—including an internship—and your employer doesn't have your full tax details, you're automatically taxed at emergency rates. This means:

• Your tax credits aren't applied (or only partially)
• A much larger portion of your wages goes to tax
• Short-term positions often end before the issue is fixed

For interns, this is especially problematic. Your placement might only last 8-12 weeks—not long enough for the emergency tax situation to resolve itself. You finish the internship, move on, and forget about it. Meanwhile, that money sits waiting to be claimed.

The Student Intern Tax Problem

Most interns are students, and most student earnings fall well below the annual tax-free threshold. With €4,000 in tax credits available (€2,000 Personal + €2,000 Employee), you'd need to earn roughly €18,000-€20,000 before owing any significant income tax.

A typical 12-week summer internship at €500/week earns you €6,000—nowhere near the threshold. If tax was deducted, you're almost certainly owed it back.

Multiple Internships? Even Better

If you've done more than one internship over the past four years, your refund could be substantial. Each new placement may have triggered emergency tax again, multiplying the overpayment. Our team reviews your complete employment history to find every refund opportunity.

You can claim for internships in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Even if you've started full-time work since, those historical overpayments are still recoverable.

Other Reliefs Interns Can Claim

Emergency tax refunds are often just part of the picture. When we review intern tax records, we also check for:

Rent Tax Credit

If you rented accommodation during your internship—whether in Dublin, Cork, or anywhere else—the rent tax credit could add up to €1,000 per year to your refund.

Medical Expenses

Any medical expenses you've had—GP visits, prescriptions, dental work—qualify for 20% relief. Students often forget they can claim these.

Tuition Fees

If you've paid tuition fees for your course (or your parents have), there may be additional relief available.

How Much Could You Get Back?

Situation	Typical Refund
Single summer internship	€300 – €800
Multiple internships (2-3 years)	€800 – €2,000+
With rent credit	€1,500 – €3,000+
Full 4-year review with all reliefs	€2,000 – €5,000+

Why Use a Professional Service?

You could try to claim your intern refund yourself, but here's why most people choose us:

• We find more: Our specialists know every relief available and often discover credits interns miss. Average clients receive €300-500 more than DIY claimants.
• Four years reviewed: We don't just look at your most recent internship—we review your entire four-year history
• No hassle: Focus on your studies or career. We handle all the paperwork and communication
• No risk: If we don't find you a refund, you pay absolutely nothing

Learn more about how our process works and our transparent fees.

Frequently Asked Questions