Starting your first part-time job while doing your Leaving Cert is exciting—until you see how much tax has been taken from your wages. If you're a student who's been working in Ireland, there's a very good chance you've overpaid tax and can claim a refund.
The reality is that most students working part-time earn below the annual tax-free threshold, meaning they shouldn't be paying much income tax at all. Yet many end up on emergency tax and lose a significant chunk of their wages unnecessarily.
📊 Key Tax Facts for Student Workers
- Tax-free threshold: Approx €18,000 with credits
- Personal Tax Credit: €2,000
- Employee Tax Credit: €2,000
- Common issue: Emergency tax on first job
Why Students Pay Too Much Tax
When you start your first job in Ireland, your employer needs your PPS number and tax details to pay you correctly. Without these, you're automatically placed on emergency tax—a temporary measure that assumes you should pay tax at a higher rate.
The problem? Emergency tax doesn't account for your tax credits. Instead of getting your €4,000 annual credit that makes most part-time earnings tax-free, you get very little or none—resulting in significant overpayment.
The Student Tax Trap
Here's what typically happens: A Leaving Cert student gets a weekend job earning €150 per week. On emergency tax, they might lose €40+ per week to tax. Over a few months, that adds up to hundreds of euros—money that, had they set things up correctly, they'd never have lost in the first place.
The good news is that every cent of that overpayment can be claimed back. Our specialists help students recover tax they didn't realise they were owed.
💡 Real Example
Aoife worked weekends at a local café during 6th year. She earned €4,800 that year but paid €720 in emergency tax. Since her annual earnings were well below the tax-free threshold, we claimed back the entire €720 for her.
How Much Should Students Actually Pay?
Understanding your tax situation helps, but our specialists handle all the calculations for you. Here's the basic picture:
As an employee, you receive PAYE tax credits totalling €4,000 per year (€2,000 Personal Tax Credit + €2,000 Employee Tax Credit). These credits offset the tax on your income, effectively making the first €18,000-€20,000 of annual earnings free from income tax.
For most students working part-time during school, annual earnings fall well below this. That means if tax is being deducted, you're likely owed most or all of it back.
Summer Job Students
Even full-time summer work rarely pushes students over the tax-free threshold. Working 40 hours per week at minimum wage for three months earns roughly €6,500—still well under the threshold. Any tax deducted is likely claimable.
Other Reliefs Students Miss
Emergency tax refunds are often just the beginning. When we review student tax records, we look at everything. Depending on your situation, you might also be entitled to:
Medical Expenses
If you've had medical expenses—GP visits, prescriptions, dental work—these qualify for 20% tax relief. Students with braces, wisdom teeth removal, or regular prescriptions often have claimable amounts they never considered.
Tuition Fee Relief
Once you move to college, tuition fee relief becomes relevant. Even if fees are paid by parents, tax relief may still apply—and our team can advise on the best approach.
Rent Tax Credit (For College Students Living Away)
If you're renting accommodation while studying, the rent tax credit provides up to €1,000 per year. This applies even if you're only working part-time.
What Could You Get Back?
Why Use a Professional Service?
You might think claiming a student tax refund is simple—and sometimes it is. But there are good reasons why students (and their parents) choose to let our team handle it:
- We find more: Our specialists review your complete tax history and identify reliefs most students don't know exist
- Multiple years covered: If you've been working for a few years, we claim back all four years—not just the most recent
- No hassle: Study time is precious. We handle all the paperwork and communication
- No risk: If we don't find you a refund, you pay nothing
Learn more about how our process works.
Overpaid Tax While Working?
Most students are owed money back. Find out what you're entitled to.
Check Your Refund →No refund, no fee • TAIN: 77632V
Frequently Asked Questions
Do students have to pay tax in Ireland?
Students are taxed the same as any employee. However, with €4,000 in annual tax credits, most students working part-time earn below the effective tax-free threshold and shouldn't owe income tax. Any tax deducted can usually be claimed back.
Why is so much tax being taken from my summer job?
You're likely on emergency tax. This happens when you start a new job and your tax details haven't been processed. We can claim back everything you've overpaid.
Can I claim for jobs I had years ago?
Yes! You can claim tax refunds for up to four years back. In 2025, that means we can review and claim for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Many students are owed money from summer jobs they've long forgotten about.
Do my parents need to be involved?
If you're 18 or over, you can claim independently. Under 18, a parent/guardian may need to assist. Our team can guide you through what's needed—it's usually very straightforward.