Right, let me tell you about the phone call that nearly made me throw my calculator out the window.
It’s January 2025, and this lad rings me up: “I’ve been working from home for three years. My mate just told me I could’ve been claiming tax back on my electricity bills. Please tell me he’s winding me up.”
He wasn’t.
And that poor fella had missed out on roughly €2,400 in tax relief. Three years of heating his home office, running his laptop, and paying for broadband while his employer saved a fortune on office space. Meanwhile, he got… nothing.
As someone who’s been sorting Irish taxes since 2008 (ACCA qualified, CTA since 2011), I’ve seen every possible way people leave money on the table. But remote working tax relief? This one properly breaks my heart. Because it’s SO easy to claim, yet most people don’t even know it exists.
The Numbers That’ll Make You Want to Check Your Bills Immediately
Let me paint you a picture with actual numbers. Take someone working from home full time (let’s call them the “typical tech worker in Sandyford who now never leaves their spare bedroom”):
Annual utility bills:
- Electricity: €2,400
- Heating (gas/oil): €1,800
- Broadband: €600
- Total: €4,800
Working days: 230 (excluding weekends, holidays, annual leave)
The calculation: (€4,800 × 230 days) ÷ 365 days = €3,025 €3,025 × 30% = €907.50 in allowable expenses
Tax relief at 40% rate: €363 Tax relief at 20% rate: €181.50
“That’s it?” I hear you cry. “I thought you said €3,400!”
Hold your horses. That’s just one year. And that’s if you’re getting the €3.20 daily allowance from your employer (which reduces your claim). Most people aren’t getting that allowance. And most people can claim back FOUR YEARS.
The €3,400 Reality Check
Here’s how someone could legitimately claim over €3,400:
Scenario: Full time remote worker, no employer allowance, claiming for 4 years
Year 1 (2021): €550 (lower rates applied) Year 2 (2022): €780 Year 3 (2023): €890 Year 4 (2024): €920 Current year (2025): €430 (partial year)
Total: €3,570
And that’s for someone on the 40% tax rate with moderate utility bills. I’ve seen claims over €4,000 for people with higher heating costs (looking at you, period house owners in Rathmines with single glazing).
The Stupid Simple Rules (That Everyone Gets Wrong)
According to Revenue’s official guidance, you can claim remote working tax relief if:
- You work from home (revolutionary, I know)
- Your employer requires or allows it
- You’re performing “substantial duties” at home
- You actually incur the costs
But here’s where people mess up:
“Substantial duties” doesn’t mean 5 days a week. Even hybrid workers can claim for their home days. Two days a week? That’s still 100+ days a year.
You DON’T need a dedicated office. Kitchen table? Grand. Bedroom corner? Perfect. Couch? Well, your back won’t thank you, but Revenue doesn’t care.
You CAN claim if you chose to work from home. As long as your employer allows it, you’re golden.
The Great €3.20 Daily Allowance Confusion
This is where things get messy. Your employer CAN pay you up to €3.20 per day tax free for remote working expenses. That’s €736 per year if you work from home every day.
Sounds great, right? Wrong.
Most employers don’t pay it. Why? Because it’s administrative hassle for something that doesn’t benefit them. And if they DO pay it, it reduces what you can claim back from Revenue.
Here’s the kicker: If your actual expenses work out to more than €3.20 per day (and they usually do), you’re better off without the allowance and claiming the full relief yourself.
One client in Blackrock worked this out:
- Daily allowance from employer: €3.20 (€736/year)
- Actual daily cost: €13.04
- Potential tax relief without allowance: €1,147
- Lost opportunity: €411 per year
She politely declined her employer’s “generous” allowance.
Real Examples from My Files (Names Changed, Numbers Real)
Example 1: The Converted Garage in Lucan
John, software developer, converted his garage to a home office in 2021:
- Annual bills: €5,200 (electric heaters, yeah?)
- Days worked from home: 220
- Calculation: (€5,200 × 220) ÷ 365 × 30% = €939
- Tax relief (40% rate): €376 per year
- Four year claim: €1,504
Example 2: The Apartment in Temple Bar
Mary, marketing manager, tiny one bed apartment:
- Annual bills: €2,800 (efficient everything)
- Days worked from home: 150 (hybrid)
- Calculation: (€2,800 × 150) ÷ 365 × 30% = €345
- Tax relief (20% rate): €69 per year
- Four year claim: €276
“Only €276?” Yes, but that’s €276 she didn’t have before. And it took her 10 minutes to claim online.
Example 3: The House Share in Rathmines
This one’s interesting. Paul shares a house with three others, all remote workers:
- Total annual bills: €7,200
- His share: €1,800 (25%)
- Days worked from home: 230
- Calculation: (€1,800 × 230) ÷ 365 × 30% = €340
- Tax relief (40% rate): €136 per year
But here’s the beautiful bit: All four housemates can claim their portion. Revenue doesn’t care that it’s the same house.
The Mistakes That Cost You Money
After helping hundreds of remote workers claim this relief, here are the costly errors I see:
Mistake 1: “I’ll claim it someday”
You can only go back four years. Every January, another year drops off. Those 2020 pandemic bills? Gone forever if you don’t claim NOW.
Mistake 2: “My bills are in my partner’s name”
Doesn’t matter. If you pay them (or contribute), you can claim. Just need to show the split.
Mistake 3: “I only worked from home during lockdown”
Those months still count! Even partial years are claimable.
Mistake 4: “I brought work home in the evenings”
That’s not the same as working from home. Has to be your normal work arrangement, not overtime on the couch.
Mistake 5: “I need receipts for everything”
Keep bills yes, but Revenue rarely asks to see them. The claim is made on self declaration initially.
The Step by Step Guide That’ll Take You 15 Minutes
Stop procrastinating. Here’s exactly how to claim:
Step 1: Gather Your Intel (5 minutes)
- Count your remote working days (exclude weekends, holidays, sick days)
- Find your utility bills (or check online accounts)
- Calculate your total annual costs
Step 2: Do the Maths (2 minutes)
Formula: (Total Bills × Remote Days) ÷ 365 × 30% = Allowable Amount
Then multiply by your tax rate (20% or 40%) for your refund.
Step 3: Log into myAccount (3 minutes)
Go to Revenue’s myAccount
- Click ‘Review your tax 2021 2024’
- Select the year
- Go to ‘Tax Credits & Reliefs’ then ‘Your Job’
- Select ‘Remote Working Relief’
Step 4: Enter Your Amount (2 minutes)
Just enter the allowable amount (not the bills total). Revenue does the rest.
Step 5: Repeat for Previous Years (3 minutes)
Go back and claim for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Money in the bank.
The Hybrid Worker’s Dilemma
“But I only work from home on Tuesdays and Thursdays!”
Perfect. Let’s say you work from home 100 days a year:
- Annual bills: €3,600
- Calculation: (€3,600 × 100) ÷ 365 × 30% = €296
- Tax relief at 20%: €59
- Tax relief at 40%: €118
Not life changing money, but it’s YOUR money. Why leave it with Revenue?
The New 2025 Twist: Real Time Relief
Here’s something beautiful: Since 2025, you can claim relief in real time through your payroll. No more waiting until year end!
Just submitted a claim in myAccount? Your next payslip shows the credit. It’s like Christmas every month.
But here’s my advice: Still do a year end review. Why? Because most people underestimate their days or forget to include all bills.
The Bills You’re Probably Forgetting
Everyone remembers electricity. But what about:
- Heating oil deliveries
- Gas bills (even if on meter)
- Broadband (the full amount, not just “business use”)
- Mobile phone bills used as hotspot
- Bins (controversial, but some claim it)
One client included her increased water charges due to being home more. Revenue accepted it. Worth a shot, right?
Why This Is Actually Bigger Than Tax Relief
Look, I know €300 or €400 a year doesn’t sound life changing. But it’s not just about the money. It’s about fairness.
Your employer saved a fortune on:
- Office rent
- Electricity
- Heating
- Cleaning
- Coffee (the biggest saving, let’s be honest)
Meanwhile, you’re paying to heat your home during the day, wear out your own furniture, and use your own electricity. This relief doesn’t cover everything, but at least it’s something.
And when you multiply it across all remote workers? That €3,400 maximum claim I mentioned? Times that by 500,000 remote workers in Ireland. We’re talking serious money left on the table.
The Future of Remote Working Relief
Here’s where it gets interesting. With Budget 2025 changes, there’s talk of enhancing remote working supports. Nothing concrete yet, but I’m hearing whispers about:
- Increased relief percentages
- Including home office equipment
- Simplified claiming process
But don’t wait for maybe someday improvements. Claim what you’re entitled to NOW.
Your Remote Working Tax Action Plan
Right, enough reading. Time for action:
This Week:
- Check if your employer pays the €3.20 allowance (payslip will show it)
- Count your 2024 remote working days (check your calendar)
- Find your 2024 utility bills (online accounts are fine)
- Calculate your claim (use the formula above)
This Weekend:
- Log into myAccount (reset password if needed)
- Submit 2024 claim (10 minutes max)
- Submit 2021, 2022, 2023 claims (another 15 minutes)
- Screenshot confirmations (for your records)
This Month:
- Set up 2025 tracking (spreadsheet or app)
- Review employer allowance (might be costing you money)
- Tell your remote working mates (be the hero)
The Bottom Line
Remote working tax relief Ireland isn’t complicated. It’s not a fortune. But it’s YOUR money, and claiming it takes less time than your average Netflix browse.
Whether it’s €200 or €2,000, why leave it with Revenue? They’ve got plenty.
And look, if you’re thinking “this is too much hassle for a few hundred euro,” let me put it this way: It’s a 15 minute job that pays better than any overtime you’ll ever work.
Plus, every time you claim, you’re voting with your wallet. You’re saying “yes, remote workers deserve support.” Because if we don’t claim what we’re entitled to, why would they ever improve it?
So stop reading articles about it (after this one, obviously) and just do it. Your 2021 self is counting on you.
And that lad who called me in January? He claimed €2,400 over four years. Took him 20 minutes. He’s using the money for a trip to Portugal.
Where he’ll probably work remotely and start the whole cycle again.
Based on current Revenue guidelines as of June 2025. Tax rules change faster than Dublin weather, so always check current regulations. And yes, I know some of you are reading this while “working” from home. I won’t tell Revenue if you won’t.
Actual client examples anonymized because, well, privacy. But the numbers? All real.
Remember: Unlike capital allowances where you need specialist knowledge, remote working relief is designed for everyone to claim. So claim it already.