📊 Fertility Treatment Tax Relief at a Glance
- Relief rate: 20% of qualifying costs
- What qualifies: IVF, IUI, ICSI, fertility medications, consultations
- Backdate period: Up to 4 years
- Typical IVF cycle: €4,000-€8,000 (€800-€1,600 back)
- No limit: Claim for multiple treatment cycles
The cost of fertility treatment in Ireland can be overwhelming, with IVF cycles often costing €4,000-€8,000 or more when you include medications, consultations, and all associated procedures. What many couples don't realise is that these expenses qualify for 20% tax relief through Revenue's medical expense provisions—potentially returning thousands of euros over multiple treatment cycles.
At MyTaxRebate.ie, our specialists help individuals and couples claim back on fertility treatments alongside all other medical expenses they may be entitled to. We understand this is a sensitive area and handle all claims with complete confidentiality, ensuring you receive the maximum refund without having to navigate complex Revenue systems during what is often an emotionally challenging time.
What Fertility Treatments Qualify?
Revenue recognises fertility treatment as a legitimate medical expense, and the scope of qualifying treatments is comprehensive. Essentially, any medical treatment aimed at achieving pregnancy or preserving fertility is eligible for tax relief. The following treatments and associated costs all qualify for 20% tax relief:
Qualifying Fertility Treatments:
- IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) – All stages of the IVF cycle including egg retrieval, fertilisation, and embryo transfer
- ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) – This specialist IVF technique where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg
- IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) – Including all monitoring appointments, scans, and the insemination procedure itself
- Fertility medications – All prescribed drugs including hormones, ovarian stimulation medications, progesterone support, and trigger injections
- Consultations – Appointments with fertility specialists, reproductive medicine doctors, and related healthcare professionals
- Diagnostic tests – Blood tests, hormone panels, ultrasound scans, semen analysis, hysterosalpingography (HSG), and other fertility investigations
- Egg freezing – When medically recommended, including the retrieval process and initial freezing
- Embryo storage – Annual storage fees for frozen embryos
- Surgical procedures – Laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, or other surgical interventions related to fertility
How Much Can You Claim Back?
With fertility treatment costs adding up quickly over one or multiple cycles, the tax relief can be substantial—especially for couples who go through several treatment cycles before achieving success or deciding to stop. The relief is calculated at 20% of all qualifying expenses, with no cap on how much you can claim.
💡 Example: Two IVF Cycles Over 2 Years
| Initial consultations and diagnostic tests | €1,500 |
| First IVF cycle (including all medications) | €6,500 |
| Second IVF cycle (including all medications) | €6,000 |
| Embryo storage (2 years @ €400/year) | €800 |
| Total fertility expenses | €14,800 |
| Tax relief at 20% | €2,960 refund |
Many couples don't keep detailed track of fertility expenses at the time because they're understandably focused on the treatment itself and the emotional aspects of the journey. If you haven't claimed before, you can backdate claims for up to four years, meaning all those costs you paid in previous years aren't lost—the money is still waiting to be claimed.
Documentation You'll Need
To claim tax relief on fertility treatments, you'll need proof of payment for all expenses. Most fertility clinics are well-organised and can provide comprehensive statements, as they're used to patients needing documentation for tax purposes:
- Clinic invoices – Itemised bills showing treatments and dates, which most clinics provide automatically
- Pharmacy receipts – For fertility medications dispensed, including any medications ordered online from approved pharmacies
- Bank or card statements – Supporting payment evidence, particularly useful for multiple small purchases
- Annual summaries – Many clinics provide year-end statements specifically for tax purposes if you request them
Don't worry if you've lost some receipts—fertility clinics keep detailed records and can usually provide duplicate statements going back several years. Our team can advise on how to obtain the documentation you need and will work with whatever records you have available.
Treatment Abroad
Many Irish couples travel abroad for fertility treatment, often to countries like Spain, the Czech Republic, Greece, or the UK where costs may be lower or specific treatments more readily available. The good news is that overseas fertility treatment also qualifies for Irish tax relief, provided certain conditions are met:
- The treatment would qualify if it were received in Ireland (i.e., it's a recognised medical treatment)
- The practitioner is qualified and registered in their jurisdiction
- You have receipts and invoices documenting all expenses paid
It's important to note that while treatment costs abroad qualify, travel and accommodation expenses do not. So while you can't claim back your flights and hotel, all the actual medical treatment costs are eligible for relief.
Combining with Other Medical Expenses
Fertility treatment costs should be claimed alongside all your other medical expenses from the same period to maximise your total refund. Think of it as one comprehensive medical expense claim:
- GP visits – Including fertility referrals and general health appointments
- Counselling services – Fertility counselling and psychological support qualify
- Pregnancy-related care – If treatment is successful, ongoing maternity care also qualifies
- Hospital and consultant fees – All private medical care
- Other prescription medications – Any prescribed medicines you take
Claim Your Fertility Treatment Tax Relief
Our specialists handle all claims with complete confidentiality and will review your full tax history for ALL medical expenses.
Start Your Free Review →Frequently Asked Questions
Can both partners claim tax relief?
The person who actually pays for the treatment can claim the relief. If one partner pays all the costs, that person makes the claim. If you share costs (perhaps from separate accounts), you can both claim relief on your respective payments.
Is donor egg or sperm IVF covered?
Yes, IVF with donor eggs or sperm qualifies for tax relief. The medical treatment costs are claimable regardless of whether donor gametes are used. The relief applies to the treatment itself, not how conception is achieved.
What if my health insurance covers some costs?
You can only claim tax relief on the portion you paid yourself out of pocket. If your insurance reimburses €2,000 of a €6,000 treatment cycle, you can claim relief on the €4,000 you paid. Keep records of what was reimbursed.
Can I claim for unsuccessful treatments?
Absolutely. The tax relief applies to the medical treatment itself, regardless of outcome. Unsuccessful cycles are just as eligible as successful ones. The purpose of the relief is to help with medical costs, not to reward successful treatments.
Is there a maximum amount I can claim?
There's no cap on medical expense claims. You can claim 20% relief on all qualifying fertility expenses, no matter how much you've spent over the four-year eligible period. This is particularly valuable for couples who undergo multiple cycles.
Why Choose MyTaxRebate.ie?
We understand that fertility treatment is a deeply personal and often emotionally challenging journey. The last thing you need is to be dealing with complex tax forms and Revenue systems. When you work with our team:
- Complete confidentiality – Your information is handled with the utmost discretion throughout the process
- Full tax review – We check for ALL reliefs you might be entitled to, not just fertility-related medical expenses
- 4-year backdate – We review your complete eligible period to maximise your total refund
- No paperwork hassle – We handle the entire Revenue submission process for you
- No refund, no fee – You only pay our fee if we successfully find money you're owed
Ready to Claim Your Fertility Tax Relief?
Join thousands of Irish workers who've claimed back money on their medical expenses.
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