I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 106, 111 and 117 together.
As the Deputies are aware, on Budget Day, I announced a €500 Rent Tax Credit which it is proposed will be claimable in respect of rent paid in 2022 and subsequent years to end-2025. The estimated cost of this measure in respect of each relevant year of assessment is €200 million.
The intention is that, in order for a person to be in a position to claim the credit in a year :
- the rent paid must be in respect of the person’s principal private residence,
- the person living in the rented property themselves, or their spouse/civil partner, must have paid the rent and sufficient tax to avail of the credit,
- the tenancy must be registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) but only where this is already a legal requirement.
Tenants in the rent-a-room scheme and in student accommodation will also be able to claim the tax credit, subject to compliance with bullet points one and two above.
In response to Deputy Naughten's questions, and as stated in my Budget address, the rent tax credit is aimed at those who do not get any other State housing supports. It is not intended that tenants of local authorities, tenants in receipt of the Housing Assistance Payment, tenants who are supported by the Rental Accommodation Scheme or who are renting from Approved Housing Bodies will be entitled to claim the relief.
A number of the above conditions applied in the past in respect of the previous “Allowance for Rent paid ” measure.
As mentioned above, the rent tax credit will be available in respect of rent paid during the course of the 2022 year of assessment and subsequent years. I am informed by Revenue that taxpayers will be required to complete an Income Tax Return in order to make a claim in respect of rent paid during the 2022 year of assessment.
Income Tax Returns for the 2022 year of assessment will be available for completion and submission in early January 2023. Further details in relation to the information and supporting documentation taxpayers will be required to provide when making a claim in respect of rent paid during 2022 will be published to the Revenue.ie website in early January 2023. Details in relation to the claim process for rent paid during the 2023 and subsequent years of assessment will also be published in due course.
Qualification/compliance requirements are continuing to be worked through at present and the aim is to have them finalised in the coming days in the context of the preparation of the Finance Bill.