Tax Credits & Reliefs >> Health and Medical Expenses

Tags: medical bills, GP's and Consultants, tax relief

Health Expenses Overview

Many people overlook the tax claim which is available in respect of medical expenses. Tax relief is available at your top tax rate for years up to and including 2008. This means for people liable at the 41% tax rate the Revenue could refund you almost half the costs incurred subject to various rules and regulations. You must keep receipts for all expenses incurred during the year.
From 2009 onwards tax relief is allowed at the 20% tax rate except for Nursing Home costs which continue qualifying for the 41% tax rate.
The most common expenses are GP visits and medicines for younger families, orthodontic costs tend to be a feature for teenagers and for older family members hospital stays and nursing homes are some of the likely areas for tax claims.
For tax years upto 2006 the first €125 per person does not qualify for relief. Where several dependants are the subject of a claim, the overall restriction is €250 for a family or group. There is no restriction regardless of the number of people covered by the claim from the tax year 2007 onwards. Any refunds from insurance companies or Health boards etc must also be deducted from the expenses incurred. 
No tax relief is allowed for routine dental and ophthalmic care. 

Who Can Claim?
An individual may claim tax relief in respect of Health Expenses incurred for: 

  • Self and family
  • A Relative, which is broadly defined. From 2007 onwards the requirement to be related is abolished.
  • For any person who is aged 65 years (or over) or who is permanently incapacitated by reason of mental or physical infirmity (Applicable for 2002 and subsequent tax years.)

What Can You Claim for?

  • Certain Costs of Doctor/Consultant Fees, Specialist Dental work.
  • Diagnostic procedures carried out on the advice of a practitioner.
  • Drugs or medicines prescribed by a Doctor.
  • The supply, maintenance or repair of any medical, surgical, dental or nursing appliance used on the advice of a practitioner.
  • Maintenance/Treatment in an approved hospital or approved nursing home including Maternity care. Click here for a list of approved hospitals and nursing homes. 
  • Treatment received abroad may also qualify.
  • Transport by ambulance.
  • Reasonable travelling and accommodation expenses if qualifying health care is only available outside Ireland.
  • Home/Special Nursing – in certain circumstances.
  • Educational psychological assessments and speech and language therapy services for children, applicable for 2001 and subsequent years.

Cost of Maintenance in a Nursing Home
This can be a very expensive matter for families who are paying nursing home costs for a parent or relative. 
The tax relief can be a very significant benefit in deciding how to meet the costs of same and can give rise to very substantial tax refunds for the persons paying the costs.
An individual may claim tax relief in respect of the costs (less any amount paid by a public or local authority, insurance scheme or other compensation) of maintaining a relative in a nursing home, which has been approved by the Minister for Health and Children. 
The definition of ‘relative’ for Health Expenses tax relief purposes is very wide and includes a spouse, ancestors, lineal descendants, brothers & sisters, inlaws etc, etc.
If part of the costs of the nursing home is shared with other family members or relatives, an individual can claim in respect of the portion paid by him/her. Note that for the year 2007 onwards the requirement for the payer and recipient to be related is abolished. 
In some cases, the person residing in the nursing home may pay some of the costs from his/her own income and this can affect a claim. Before calculating the relief, any costs paid by the resident in the nursing home is deducted from the claim (or a maximum deduction of 60% of the resident’s income. It is Revenue policy to deduct this 60% of the dependents income regardless of whether or not it is used to actually defray the costs involved.). Example:
You maintain a dependent in an approved Nursing Home and you claim relief in respect of the expenses, which total €15,000. Your dependent has an income of €8,000.
Health Expenses attributable to Dependent                 €15,000
Deduct: 60% of Dependent’s Income (i.e.)                  (€4,800)
Health Expenses claimable by you                 €10,200

Qualifying Dental Treatment
This covers the following treatments:
·         Orthodontic Treatment – frequently arises for children (Braces/TrainTracks)
·         Crowns
·         Veneers
·         Tip Replacing
·         Gold Posts
·         Gold Inlays
·         Endodontics – (Root Canal Treatment)
·         Periodontal Treatment
·         Surgical Extraction of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
·         Bridgework
·         Dental Implant Treatment

When and How do I get the Tax Relief
You must complete a Med 1 tax relief claim form and you must have a Med 2 form if claiming relief for specialist dental work. For self assessment tax returns the claim forms part of your tax return form. The Med 2 form will be completed by the dentist and certifies the type of work performed and that it qualifies for tax relief. These are sent to your tax office along with your normal tax return for the year in question. The Revenue will then issue you with a statement of your final tax position for the year and send you a cheque for any refund due.
Relief can be claimed for expenses paid in each tax year, or for the year in which the expenses were incurred. Claims can be in respect of the health insurance subscription year or for expenses incurred in the actual tax year but must be on a consistent basis year on year. Relief is given by way of repayment after the end of the year.

How do I calculate the amount of Qualifying Expenses
Our medical expenses claim calculator allows you to compute the amount of expenses for which tax relief will be available. You will need to have all your receipts sorted into the relevant tax year and category of expense and have the totals for each category ready to input into our calculator. Click here to go to the calculator. 
The allowable figure is then claimed in your tax return and the Revenue will refund you whatever amount of repayment you are due.
Example
Mr. Smart and his family incurred the following medical expenses;

Medical Expenses

2010 

2010 

Nursing Home Costs

€6,000

 

Visits to G.P/ Medicines

 

€1,900

Orthodontic Work (TrainTracks)

 

€2,500

Total

€6,000

€4,400

Less:

 

 

Amount recovered from VHI

€340

 €120 

Qualifying for Tax Relief

€5,660

€4,280

Amount of tax relief

€2,320

€856

This is the amount of the tax relief due and will be refunded by the Revenue after the end of the tax year after submission of the appropriate claim.

* For the Nursing Home costs tax relief is at 41%( assuming top rate tax applies) but for the other expenses tax relief is at 20%. 

Expert Tax Library

Age 65 and Over

PAYE Taxpayers

Tax Credits & Reliefs