If you became unemployed during the tax year, you may have overpaid tax while you were working. Your tax credits are calculated annually—if you don't use them all, you could be owed money back.
Our specialists help people who've experienced unemployment claim back overpaid tax. Here's how unused tax credits work.
📊 Unused Credits & Unemployment
- Annual credits: €4,000+ for most workers
- If unemployed part-year: Credits may not be fully used
- Result: Overpaid tax = potential refund
- Backdate period: 4 years
How Tax Credits Work
Your tax credits are annual amounts that reduce your tax bill. Most single PAYE workers have around €4,000 in credits (Personal Tax Credit + Employee Tax Credit).
These credits are spread across the year. But if you stop working partway through:
- You've paid tax as if you'd work all year
- Your remaining credits weren't used
- You may have overpaid tax
When Refunds Occur
You're most likely owed a refund if:
- You lost your job mid-year: Unused credits for the remainder
- You worked only part of the year: Seasonal or temporary work
- You had gaps between jobs: Credits not fully utilised
- You were on emergency tax: Before unemployment
💡 Real Example
Mike worked January to August, then was made redundant. He'd paid tax as if he'd work all year, but had four months of unused credits. When we reviewed his tax, we recovered €1,340 in overpaid tax, plus rent credit he'd never claimed.
Social Welfare & Tax
If you received Jobseeker's Benefit (not Allowance), this is taxable. However, if your total income for the year was low enough, you may not owe tax on it—or it may be covered by your unused credits.
Other Reliefs You May Be Missing
When we review your tax, we also check for:
- Rent tax credit – up to €1,000/year
- Medical expenses – 20% relief
- Flat rate expenses – from when you were working
- Redundancy payment – often tax-free
The average refund our clients receive is €1,080.
Been Unemployed?
Our experts will check for unused credits and find all your reliefs.
Start Your Free Review →No refund, no fee • Average refund €1,080 • TAIN: 77632V
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the refund come automatically?
Not always—especially for previous years. Our specialists ensure nothing is missed.
What if I'm still unemployed?
You can still claim a refund for years when you worked. You don't need to be currently employed.
How far back can I claim?
Four years. In 2025, you can claim for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.