Estimate your HTB tax refund in seconds. Up to €30,000 towards your deposit on a new home in Ireland. Updated for 2026.
Check your Employment Detail Summaries on Revenue.ie (myAccount → Review your tax → Income Tax Return). Add up the "Income Tax" and "DIRT" amounts for each of the 4 years before your application year.
Quick estimate: If you earned an average of €45,000/year over 4 years, you likely paid approximately €28,000–€36,000 in income tax over that period (depending on your credits and deductions). Most full-time workers earning €40k+ will have paid enough tax to claim the full €30,000.
If you combine HTB with the First Home Scheme, the maximum FHS equity stake reduces from 30% to 20%. The HTB refund itself is not affected.
Want a personalised report with your full buying power breakdown?
Try the Full Affordability Calculator →The Help to Buy (HTB) scheme is an Irish government incentive that provides first-time buyers with a tax refund of up to €30,000 towards the deposit on a new home. Originally introduced in 2017, the scheme has been extended multiple times and is now confirmed to run until the end of 2029 following Budget 2026.
You must be a first-time buyer who has never owned a residential property in Ireland or abroad. The property must be a new build or self-build (second-hand homes do not qualify). The purchase price must be €500,000 or less, and your mortgage must be at least 70% of the purchase price. You must intend to live in the property as your primary residence.
The HTB refund is the lesser of three amounts: €30,000 (the maximum), 10% of the purchase price, or the total income tax and DIRT you paid over the previous 4 tax years. Most full-time workers earning above €40,000 will have paid enough tax to claim the full €30,000 on properties priced above €300,000. Use our Help to Buy calculator above to estimate your refund.
Yes. The Help to Buy scheme can be combined with the First Home Scheme for new builds and self-builds. However, when you combine them, the maximum First Home Scheme equity stake reduces from 30% to 20% of the purchase price. This still represents significant support — on a €400,000 home, you could potentially access €30,000 (HTB) plus €80,000 (FHS) = €110,000 towards your purchase.
Apply through Revenue.ie using your myAccount login. You'll need your PPS number, MyGovID verification, property details, and mortgage information. Revenue will assess your tax history and generate an access code that you share with your developer. The refund is paid directly to the developer as part of your deposit. For a complete step-by-step guide, see our Help to Buy Guide.
For more tools and guides for first-time buyers in Ireland, visit our First-Time Buyer Hub. Need a BER assessment for your new home? Visit Homerating.ie.