The number of tenants claiming Ireland’s renters’ tax credit has dropped by almost half compared with last year, prompting concern among politicians that many renters may be missing out on the relief.
New figures show that 170,410 people have claimed the credit for 2025, down sharply from 316,750 claims in 2024. The issue was raised in the Dáil Éireann, where it was suggested that information about the tax credit should become an obligatory part of new tenancy contracts when updated rental rules come into force on March 1.
The renters’ tax credit allows tenants to claim back 20% of their annual rent, capped at €1,000 for an individual or €2,000 for a jointly assessed couple. The measure was extended in Budget 2026 and will remain in place until the end of 2028.
Figures supplied by Simon Harris to Cathal Crowe show significant falls across every county. In Dublin, claims dropped from 155,530 in 2024 to 86,490 in 2025. Cork saw claims fall from 34,130 to 17,840, while Galway dropped from 20,000 to 10,420. The lowest figures were recorded in Leitrim, where claims fell from 950 to 480.
Mr Harris said most PAYE taxpayers claim credits after the end of the tax year and expects the majority of 2025 claims to be made during 2026. However, Mr Crowe said he was “taken aback” by the low take-up and questioned whether renters are fully aware of the relief. He called for a national awareness campaign, suggesting tax credit information be automatically provided with new tenancy agreements.
Separately, a new renting survey by housing charity Threshold and Northern Ireland’s Housing Rights found that 30% of renters in Ireland feel uncertain about staying in their homes, compared with 17% in Northern Ireland. The study also highlighted that private rents in Ireland have risen by over 100% since 2015.