Emergency tax is a temporary tax rate that's applied when your employer doesn't have the correct tax information for you. It's one of the most common causes of overpaid tax in Ireland—and it can take up to 40% of your earnings with no tax credits applied.
Our specialists help people recover overpaid emergency tax every day. Here's what emergency tax is, why it happens, and how to claim it back.
📊 Emergency Tax Explained
- What it is: Temporary tax rate when Revenue hasn't sent instructions
- First 4 weeks: Standard rate (20%) with reduced credits
- After 4 weeks: 40% on all income, no credits
- Can you claim it back? Yes, once properly registered
What is Emergency Tax?
When you start a new job, your employer needs a Revenue Payroll Notification (RPN) telling them how to tax you. This includes your tax credits and rate band allocation.
Without this information, your employer must apply emergency tax rates as a default. This protects against underpayment, but often results in significant overpayment.
Why Does Emergency Tax Happen?
The most common causes include:
- First job: You haven't registered with Revenue yet
- Changing jobs: Your new employer hasn't received your RPN
- No PPS number: Can't be registered with Revenue
- Revenue delays: Instructions not processed in time
- Second job: Not properly registered
How Emergency Tax Rates Work
💡 Real Impact
On a €40,000 salary, you'd normally pay around €5,900 in tax annually. On emergency tax after 4 weeks, you'd pay €16,000—that's €10,100 more than you should. This is why emergency tax refunds can be so substantial.
How to Know You're on Emergency Tax
Check your payslip for these signs:
- "Week 1" or "EMERG" in the tax basis column
- Tax credits showing €0 or unusually low
- 40% tax rate applied to all earnings
- Much lower take-home pay than expected
How to Claim It Back
Once your tax is properly set up, you can claim back the overpayment. Our specialists will:
- Review all four years for emergency tax periods
- Calculate exactly what you're owed
- Find other reliefs you may be missing
- Handle all Revenue communication
The average refund our clients receive is €1,080.
Been on Emergency Tax?
Our experts will recover your overpayments and find all other reliefs.
Start Your Free Review →No refund, no fee • Average refund €1,080 • TAIN: 77632V
Frequently Asked Questions
Is emergency tax legal?
Yes—employers are legally required to apply emergency tax when they don't have proper Revenue instructions. It protects against underpayment.
Will I get the refund automatically?
Sometimes, but not always—especially for previous years. Our service ensures nothing is missed.
How can I avoid emergency tax?
Register your new job on Revenue's myAccount before you start. See our guide on avoiding emergency tax.