📊 Prescription Medication Tax Relief
- Relief rate: 20% of qualifying costs
- What qualifies: Prescribed medications and medical appliances
- Backdate period: Up to 4 years
- No threshold: Claim from the first euro spent
- Typical savings: €50-€100/month = €120-€240+ back annually
If you're taking regular prescription medication in Ireland, you could be missing out on significant tax relief that adds up year after year. Many people spend €50, €100, or even more each month on prescriptions—that's €600-€1,200+ per year where you can claim back 20% through Revenue's medical expense provisions.
At MyTaxRebate.ie, our specialists help PAYE workers claim back on prescription costs alongside all other medical expense reliefs they may be entitled to. Over four years of backdated claims, the refund can add up to hundreds or even thousands of euros for those on regular medications.
What Prescription Expenses Qualify?
Tax relief applies to medications that are prescribed by a registered medical practitioner. This covers a broad range of treatments, from daily medications for chronic conditions to occasional prescriptions for acute illnesses. The key requirement is that the medication must be prescribed—over-the-counter purchases don't qualify even if they're for a medical condition.
Qualifying Prescription Items:
- Cardiovascular medications – Blood pressure tablets, statins for cholesterol, blood thinners, heart medications
- Diabetes medications – Insulin, metformin, and other diabetes management drugs
- Thyroid medications – Levothyroxine and other thyroid hormone replacements
- Mental health medications – Antidepressants, anxiety medications, sleep aids, ADHD medications
- Pain management – Prescription painkillers, anti-inflammatories, nerve pain medications
- Asthma and respiratory – Inhalers, nebuliser medications, COPD treatments
- Allergy treatments – Prescription antihistamines, EpiPens, immunotherapy
- Skin conditions – Prescription creams, psoriasis treatments, eczema medications
- Contraceptives – Prescription contraceptive pills, patches, and devices
- Medical appliances – Blood glucose monitors, insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors (if prescribed)
How Much Can You Claim Back?
Tax relief is calculated at 20% of your prescription costs. For people on regular medications, the savings accumulate to meaningful amounts over time—especially when you claim for the full four-year period.
💡 Example: Regular Monthly Prescriptions
| Monthly prescription spend (average €75/month) | €900/year |
| Annual prescription spend × 4 years | €3,600 |
| Total eligible over 4 years | €3,600 |
| Tax relief at 20% | €720 refund |
If you're on multiple medications or have higher prescription costs due to a chronic condition, the potential refund can be even larger. And remember—prescription costs are just one part of your potential claim. When combined with GP visits, specialist consultations, and other medical expenses, the total refund often surprises people.
What Doesn't Qualify?
Not everything purchased at the pharmacy attracts tax relief. Revenue specifically excludes items that are considered general wellness products or personal care items rather than medical necessities:
❌ Non-Qualifying Items:
- Over-the-counter medications (paracetamol, ibuprofen, cold remedies, cough medicines)
- Vitamins and supplements (unless specifically prescribed for a deficiency)
- Non-prescription skincare and haircare products
- General health and wellness products
- First aid supplies and plasters
- Cosmetic products even if purchased from a pharmacy
Documentation Required
To claim tax relief on prescription expenses, you'll need evidence of your purchases. The good news is that pharmacies are required to keep records, so obtaining documentation is usually straightforward:
- Pharmacy receipts – Itemised receipts showing prescription items purchased, dates, and amounts paid
- Annual statements – Most pharmacies can provide yearly summaries of all your prescription purchases upon request
- Drug Payment Scheme records – If you're on the DPS, you'll have monthly records of payments
- Bank or card statements – Can support claims if receipts are unavailable
💡 Tip: Request Annual Statements
Most pharmacies can print an annual summary of all your prescription purchases, usually for free. This makes claiming much easier than collecting individual receipts throughout the year. Simply ask your pharmacist at the start of the new year for a summary of the previous year's purchases.
Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) and Tax Relief
If you're registered for the Drug Payment Scheme, you can still claim tax relief on the prescription costs you pay up to the monthly threshold. The DPS caps your out-of-pocket expenses at €80 per month per family, but you can claim 20% back on what you actually pay.
For example, if your family's prescriptions cost €250 per month but you only pay €80 due to the DPS cap, you can claim 20% relief on the €80 you actually paid. That's €16 back per month, or €192 per year—and €768 over four years if you claim for the full period.
Claiming for Family Members
You can claim tax relief not just on your own prescriptions but also on prescription costs you pay for family members. This includes:
- Your spouse or civil partner – All their prescription costs that you pay
- Your dependent children – Including adult children still in education
- Other dependent relatives – Elderly parents or other relatives you support
If you're the one paying for the whole family's medications, you can claim relief on the total amount—which can significantly increase your refund.
Combining with Other Medical Expenses
Prescription costs should be claimed alongside all your other medical expenses for maximum benefit. Don't make separate small claims—submit one comprehensive medical expense claim covering everything:
- GP consultations – Where you get your prescriptions
- Hospital and consultant fees – Specialist appointments
- Physiotherapy treatments – Injury rehabilitation
- Dental expenses – All dental work
- Optical costs – Eye tests and glasses
When you work with MyTaxRebate.ie, we review ALL your potential medical expense claims—ensuring you don't miss any available relief and maximising your total refund.
Claim Your Prescription Tax Relief
Our specialists will review your complete tax history and claim ALL medical expenses you're entitled to.
Start Your Free Review →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim for my family's prescriptions?
Yes, you can claim tax relief on prescription costs for your spouse/partner and dependent children. If you're paying for the whole family's medications, you can claim relief on the total amount you spend.
Do I need the actual prescription slip?
No, you don't need to keep the prescription itself. What you need is proof of payment—pharmacy receipts showing the prescription items you purchased. Annual statements from your pharmacy are ideal for this purpose.
What if I have a medical card?
Medical card holders pay a small prescription charge per item (currently €1.50, capped at €15 per month per family). You can claim tax relief on these charges, though the amounts are small. The relief is more significant for non-medical card holders.
Can I claim for medications bought online?
Yes, prescription medications bought from licensed online pharmacies qualify for tax relief, provided they were prescribed by a registered medical practitioner and you have proof of payment.
How far back can I claim?
You can claim for prescriptions purchased in the current year plus the previous 4 years. If you've been on regular medication for years without claiming, there could be a significant refund waiting for you.
Why Use MyTaxRebate.ie?
Claiming medical expenses yourself through Revenue's myAccount system can be time-consuming and confusing. Many people miss out on additional refunds simply because they don't know what else they can claim. When you work with our specialists:
- Complete tax review – We check for ALL reliefs beyond medical expenses, including rent credit, flat rate expenses, and more
- 4-year backdate – We review your entire eligible period to maximise your refund
- No 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
Stop Missing Out on Prescription Tax Relief
Join thousands of Irish workers who've claimed back money on their medical expenses.
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