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Working from home, also known as remote working or e-working, can be great for flexibility, but it also comes with extra costs. Your electricity, heating, phone, and internet bills often go up when you’re spending more time at home. But did you know you might be able to claim some of that money back from Revenue?
If you currently work from home or even did so in the past few years (you can claim for up to four years back), you could be eligible for working from home tax relief. Whether you’re a full-time remote worker or split your week between the office and home, this article will walk you through how it works, and how to make sure you’re getting what you’re owed.
Working from Home Is Still Popular in Ireland
Even though some employers are encouraging staff to return to the office, remote and hybrid work remain a big part of working life in Ireland.
In January 2025, approximately 40% of all job ads in Ireland were remote or hybrid, with 15% fully remote and 25% hybrid. This shows that flexible work is still a major trend, and thousands of people continue to do some or all of their work from home.
If that’s you, it’s worth checking whether you’re entitled to claim tax relief on your home working expenses.
What Is Working from Home Tax Relief?
When you work from home, your heating, electricity, and broadband bills naturally go up. To help with these extra costs, Revenue offers tax relief, meaning you can get some money back based on your work-related home expenses.
If your employer doesn’t pay you the €3.20 per day tax-free allowance that Revenue allows to help cover home-working expenses, you could still claim money back through working from home tax relief.
And with electricity and heating costs rising sharply, every little bit helps. Many households are already feeling the pinch of higher utility bills, especially as energy suppliers continue to increase their prices So, if you’ve been working from home and covering those extra costs yourself, it’s definitely worth checking if you’re entitled to claim some tax back.
Who Can Claim?
You can claim working from home tax relief if:
- You regularly work from home because your employer requires you to.
- You use your own home for work purposes (not just occasionally checking emails).
- You pay household bills such as electricity, heating, or broadband in your own name.
- You keep receipts and bills as proof of your expenses.
It doesn’t apply to people who occasionally take work home outside of their normal working hours.
What Expenses Are Covered?
You can claim a portion of these household costs:
- Electricity and heating bills (gas, oil, etc.)
- Broadband or internet bills
You can’t claim for furniture or equipment such as desks, chairs, or laptops, even if you use them for work. If you share your bills with a partner or housemate, you can only claim your share of the cost.
How Much Can You Claim?
From 2022 onwards, you can claim 30% of your electricity, heating, and broadband costs for the days you worked from home.
Here’s how it works:
- Add up your yearly electricity, heating, and broadband costs.
- Multiply that total by the number of days you worked from home.
- Divide by 365 to find the portion of the year you worked remotely.
- Take 30% of that amount — that’s your allowable cost.
- Apply your tax rate (20% or 40%) to see your refund.
Stay Ahead of Your Finances this Year.
How to Claim
You can claim working from home tax relief through Revenue’s myAccount service online.
Option 1: During the Year
You can upload your bills using the “Receipts Tracker” in your PAYE Services. This lets you get your tax relief in real time, reducing the tax you pay through payroll.
Option 2: After the Year Ends
You can also claim at the end of the tax year:
- Log into myAccount.
- Go to PAYE Services → Review your tax for the relevant year.
- Choose Complete your Income Tax Return.
- Under “Tax Credits and Reliefs,” select Remote Working Relief.
- Enter your expenses and upload your bills or receipts.
You must keep your bills for six years in case Revenue asks for proof.
If You’re Self-Employed and Work from Home
If you’re self-employed, the process is a little different; you don’t claim “remote working relief” through myAccount as PAYE workers do. Instead, you claim a portion of your home expenses as business costs on your annual tax return.
What You Can Claim
You can usually claim a percentage of:
- Electricity, heating, and broadband are used for your business
- Rent (if you rent your home and use part of it for work)
- Cleaning and maintenance of your workspace
- Home insurance (business portion only)
- Office supplies, phone, and stationery
The key rule is that expenses must be “wholly and exclusively” for business use.
If your home doubles as your office, you’ll need to apportion costs, for example, by the number of rooms or the percentage of time you use the space for work.
Example
If your home has five rooms and you use one solely for business, you could claim 20% of household running costs like heating, electricity, broadband, and rent as allowable business expenses.
Other Reliefs for the Self-Employed
- You can also claim capital allowances on office furniture or equipment, such as a desk, chair, or computer.
- If you contribute to a pension or income protection policy, you can claim tax relief on those too.
- Always keep detailed records and receipts. Revenue may request proof of how you calculated your business-use percentage.
So while the process isn’t identical to PAYE working-from-home relief, the savings can often be greater if you’re self-employed and regularly work from home.
Learn more by reading our article: Tax Reductions for the Self-Employed in Ireland.
Extra Ways to Make the Most of Tax Relief in Ireland
Once you’ve claimed your working-from-home relief, don’t stop there; there are other ways to use tax reliefs to your advantage:
Use Tax Relief to Grow Your Pension
Contributing to your pension can reduce your income tax bill, and the government gives tax relief at 20% or 40%, depending on your income.
By putting more into your pension, you’re not only saving for the future but also lowering the tax you pay today.
Read: Ways to Use Tax Relief to Grow Your Pension
Claim Tax Relief on Income Protection
If you have an income protection policy, you can claim tax relief on your premiums. This reduces your cover cost by up to 40%, depending on your tax rate. It’s a simple way to protect your income and save on tax at the same time.
Read: Tax Relief on Income Protection
Put Your Tax Refund to Work
Got a tax refund coming your way? Use it wisely! You could top up your pension, pay off debt, start an emergency fund, or invest it for long-term growth. A little planning can turn a one-off refund into lasting financial progress.
Read: Smart Ways to Use Your Tax Refund
Tax Reductions for the Self-Employed
If you’re self-employed, you have even more ways to save, from deducting business expenses to claiming pension and insurance contributions. Knowing which deductions apply can significantly reduce your annual tax bill.
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Working from home has its perks: no commute, more flexibility, and maybe even a better work-life balance. But it can also mean higher bills. Claiming your working from home tax relief is a simple way to get some of that money back, and it only takes a few minutes to do. While you’re at it, why not take the next step toward improving your finances overall?
Get a financial planning quote and find out how to make your money work harder, for today and for your future. We’re here to help you plan smarter and make the most of every opportunity.
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All our content has been written or overseen by a qualified financial advisor. However, you should always seek individual financial advice for your unique circumstances.
