Tax relief: 20% back on qualifying costs
If you pay income tax in Ireland, you can claim relief at 20% on health expenses you paid and weren't refunded for by an insurer or scheme. Claim in Revenue myAccount under Review your tax, for any of the last four years.
| Usually qualifies | Usually doesn’t |
|---|---|
| Doctor appointments, including online Doctor | Routine dental: check-ups, scale and polish, simple fillings |
| Prescribed medicines (above what the Drugs Payment Scheme covers) | Routine eye tests, glasses and contact lenses |
| Consultant fees, hospital charges, scans and tests | Anything your insurer refunded |
| Physiotherapy and other therapies on referral | Non-prescribed products |
A worked example
€390 of Doctor visits, €260 of prescriptions and a €650 crown makes €1,300 qualifying - about €260 back.
Non-routine dental and the Med 2
Crowns, bridges, root canal treatment, orthodontics and surgical extractions count as non-routine. Ask your dentist for a Med 2 - they complete and sign it - and keep it with the receipt.
PRSI dental and optical benefits
The Treatment Benefit Scheme gives people with enough PRSI contributions a free dental examination each year and a contribution towards a scale and polish, plus a free eye test and help towards glasses. Check before booking - it often saves more than tax relief would.
Capping prescription costs
The Drugs Payment Scheme caps what a household pays for approved prescribed medicines each month. It's free to join and spend above the cap is never charged. Read the Drugs Payment Scheme guide.
Key dates to claim
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | PAYE workers can claim last year’s health expenses in Revenue myAccount. |
| 31 October (mid-November on ROS) | If you complete a self-assessed return, include health expenses. |
| 31 December | Claims for the year four years ago close for good. |
Preparing your claim with ViscaCare
In the ViscaCare app, open Vault → Receipts and photograph any medical, pharmacy or dental receipt, or send it to Mia. Paid ViscaCare Doctor appointments are saved automatically. You'll see your qualifying health expenses, your Med 2 dental total and an estimate of the tax back.
Good to know
ViscaCare is a medical expense tax calculator and claim preparation tool, not a refund service. You submit the claim to Revenue. Totals are estimates from your saved receipts, not tax advice. Keep receipts and Med 2 forms for six years.
The bottom line
Join the Drugs Payment Scheme, check PRSI before routine dental and eye care, and keep every receipt in one place. A fifth of most qualifying costs comes back.
Common questions
How much tax can I claim back on medical expenses in Ireland?
Relief is given at the standard rate of 20% on qualifying health expenses you paid and were not refunded for, including Doctor and consultant fees, prescribed medicines and many therapies. You claim through Revenue myAccount and can go back four years.
What is a Med 2 form?
A Med 2 is completed and signed by your dentist to certify non-routine dental treatment such as crowns, root canal treatment, bridges, orthodontics or surgical extractions. Routine check-ups, cleaning and simple fillings do not qualify.
When should I claim?
PAYE workers can claim for the previous year from January in Revenue myAccount. If you complete a self-assessed return, include health expenses by 31 October (mid-November on ROS). Claims for the year four years ago close on 31 December.
Does ViscaCare claim the refund for me?
No. ViscaCare is a medical expense tax calculator and claim preparation tool: it totals your receipts and prepares the figures. You submit the claim yourself to Revenue, which pays any refund.
Where these figures come from
- Revenue - health expenses
- Revenue - dental expenses and the Med 2
- Citizens Information - Treatment Benefit Scheme
- Citizens Information - Drugs Payment Scheme
Charges and thresholds change. We check these figures regularly, but always confirm the current rate with the official source before you rely on it. This page explains entitlements, costs and process - it is not medical advice.
Related guides
What healthcare costs in Ireland
GP fees, the €100 ED charge, prescription caps and consultant fees.
Read moreOnline prescriptions in Ireland
What can be prescribed remotely, repeat medication, and what you pay at the pharmacy.
Read moreGP visit card
Free GP visits on higher income limits than a medical card.
Read moreMedical card Ireland
Medicines at €1.50, hospital care, dental and optical cover - and the income limits.
Read moreOnline doctor in Ireland
What it costs (typically around €50), what can be prescribed, and how booking works.
Read more