Dental Expenses tax relief

Kila

Hi,

Before I start, I've searched the forum and haven't found the answer here. I've also contacted my local tax office, but aside from asking for my PPS number, they haven't yet bothered to reply. I'm already sure that the type of dental work is covered and I've already read the citizens info page (and the revenue pages) without getting an answer to my question. In short, I've tried all avenues, and I'm still stumped.

I have orthodontic braces. I'm getting them done in Northern Ireland (Newry, to be precise). I want to know if I can claim tax relief for my braces, and if so, whether I have to wait until I'm finished paying for the braces? (I paid an initial deposit of 1000, and I'm currently paying instalments of 700 every 6 months. To date I have paid 1700, with a further 1400 to go).

Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

Wishbone Ash

AFAIK you will not be able to claim tax relief on medical expenses incurred outside the jurisdiction where you normally pay income tax.

Kila

Strangely enough, the tax office actually got back to me today, and they told me I could.

This is exactly why I'm so confused, tbh. I want to apply for relief if I'm due for it, but I don't want to apply, get relief, and then get a bill a year later because they decide it doesn't qualify after all. <sigh>

Do you suppose the mail in which I was told I could apply for relief would be in any way binding if such a thing did occur?

Mr. Incognito

Dental expenses are allowable.

Google a Med 2 Form- you'll get it on the Revenue website. Fill it out and send it into your local tax district.

Generally it's first year CO's answering the phone's in Revenue so take no notice of them.

copacetic

Just to be clear, this is my understanding, you don't just fill out a med2 yourself. You fill out a med1 and the dentist fills in the med2 for you or at least stamps and signs it. You then send them both in together.

The med1 doesn't require receipts to be sent in with it, the med2 requires proof that you had a qualifying procedure

gina_d

Just to mention, that this can be done so much easier online. It takes a while to set up and get sent out pin numbers but after that you can claim back what you need and not send any forms or receipts (they say to keep them 3 years in the case of an audit). They can then lodge any tax refund straight into your account (usually bout 2-3 weeks after claiming back expences).

Also, important to note that the tax relief rules are changing in 2009. Will no longer be able to claim back 41% tax. Check with your tax office and look to pay as much before end of year as possible in order to claim maximum back. If you do pay 41% tax, then this change could mean the difference of a few hundred euro.

Have posted this message in a few forums cause i only heard this by accident and i'm really mad that this was not advertised as a lot of people will get caught out. I have a few friends that have just gotten or are planning to get braces and other than a mention on the budget website, no body mentioned this change.

Best of luck with your braces, i got mine off last march after two years and don't regret getting them for a minute.

Regs,

G

Ticktactoe

If your dental treatment can only be carried out, outside the state, then they qualify for relief. If there is no surgery in Ireland that can perform the proceedure then you qualify.
The Med 2 form is completed and stamped by the Dental practioner and given back to you. This is your receipt for revenue should they request it. The med 1 requests details of how much your non-routine dental treatment cost. You submit the Med 1 and hold on to your receipts incase revenue request them at a later date. You do not have to submit the med 2 but some districts may no process the claim unless they have received it so with this in mind it would be no harm to submit it also. :)

Tanabe

Hi Lads,

I'm registered on ros.ie and am trying to claim for dental work carried out during 2008 but am not able to select Health Expenses from the following option:

"To claim Tax Credits or a Refund e.g. Health Expenses (MED 1)
for a different year select from the drop down list:"

Under 2007 I can see the Health Expenses amount I claimed for but once I select 2008 there isn't any option to add Health Expenses and/or to input an amount.

Can somebody please help, I need to claim back my 41% rate, thanks.

copacetic

Tanabe wrote: »

Hi Lads,

I'm registered on ros.ie and am trying to claim for dental work carried out during 2008 but am not able to select Health Expenses from the following option:

"To claim Tax Credits or a Refund e.g. Health Expenses (MED 1)
for a different year select from the drop down list:"

Under 2007 I can see the Health Expenses amount I claimed for but once I select 2008 there isn't any option to add Health Expenses and/or to input an amount.

Can somebody please help, I need to claim back my 41% rate, thanks.

you can't claim them until 2008 is over, i.e only for past years, not current year.

Tanabe

Yeah, that's what I hoped you were going to say;). So, I will still be able to claim @ 41% as the work was carried out in 08?

I'm genuinely claiming for thousands, thanks.

copacetic

Tanabe wrote: »

Yeah, that's what I hoped you were going to say;). So, I will still be able to claim @ 41% as the work was carried out in 08?

I'm genuinely claiming for thousands, thanks.

I am too, as long as you paid it this year and have the med2 signed this year you are alright.

eth0_

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

AFAIK you will not be able to claim tax relief on medical expenses incurred outside the jurisdiction where you normally pay income tax.

Nonsense. You can claim for dental work performed in the EU.
I claimed for work done in Newry a few years ago. The dentist has to fill out the MED2 and stamp or sign it.

mikemac

Tanabe wrote: »

Yeah, that's what I hoped you were going to say;). So, I will still be able to claim @ 41% as the work was carried out in 08?

I'm genuinely claiming for thousands, thanks.

I'm doing the same only for laser eye surgury, should have done it ages ago, damn my procrastination

gina_d wrote: »

Also, important to note that the tax relief rules are changing in 2009. Will no longer be able to claim back 41% tax. Check with your tax office and look to pay as much before end of year as possible in order to claim maximum back. If you do pay 41% tax, then this change could mean the difference of a few hundred euro.

Have posted this message in a few forums cause i only heard this by accident and i'm really mad that this was not advertised as a lot of people will get caught out. I have a few friends that have just gotten or are planning to get braces and other than a mention on the budget website, no body mentioned this change.

Good post, it needs to be highlighted.
Although it was pretty well reported around Budget time, I certainly wouldn't say it was advertised at the time. But yes, people should make it their business to know this if they have a claim to lodge.

eth0_ wrote: »

Nonsense. You can claim for dental work performed in the EU.
I claimed for work done in Newry a few years ago. The dentist has to fill out the MED2 and stamp or sign it.

+1
Get that form posted and I'd say use registered post as they lost all my claim forms last time. Grrrrrrr!
There is an online system for PAYE workers to manage this but I haven't quite figured it out.
But worth looking into, it's all on the revenue site

Ticktactoe

Just to highlight guys, you can only claim for dental work performed outside Ireland once that work could not be performed in Ireland. Some Revenue districts are strict on this.

gs39t

copacetic wrote: »

I am too, as long as you paid it this year and have the med2 signed this year you are alright.

Not sure if i should be asking my orthodontist this or what, but im 3/4 way through treatment, can i claim back tax for expenses for 2008 or are you required to be finished treatment before you can claim? ie, do i need the MED2 form before i claim anything? According to ros.ie you dont even need to send the MED2 at all, just keep it incase they check up.

copacetic

well you don't need to send it in, but you do 'need it'. i.e if they decide to check on it and you have claimed more than you are due, you may be in trouble. How likely that is I dunno.

I paid up the bill in full before the end of year, so I could claim the whole amount. I think that is what most people would have done.

To stay safe you can at least claim everything you had done up to 2009 year end at full rate, and then next year claim 2009s portion. If you are 3/4 way through, you won't be too much worse off. i.e only 20% worse off on 1/4 of the bill if you see what I mean.

gs39t

copacetic wrote: »

well you don't need to send it in, but you do 'need it'. i.e if they decide to check on it and you have claimed more than you are due, you may be in trouble. How likely that is I dunno.

I paid up the bill in full before the end of year, so I could claim the whole amount. I think that is what most people would have done.

To stay safe you can at least claim everything you had done up to 2009 year end at full rate, and then next year claim 2009s portion. If you are 3/4 way through, you won't be too much worse off. i.e only 20% worse off on 1/4 of the bill if you see what I mean.

I only want to claim what i have actually paid so far, but i mean if i claim for what ive paid, but the ortho wont give me a med2 until completion, can i get in trouble for claiming without having a med2 form physically in my possession? The 41% back would go a long way to paying the rest of the bill!

copacetic

gs39t wrote: »

I only want to claim what i have actually paid so far, but i mean if i claim for what ive paid, but the ortho wont give me a med2 until completion, can i get in trouble for claiming without having a med2 form physically in my possession? The 41% back would go a long way to paying the rest of the bill!

he will give you a med2 for 2008 I'm sure, everyone has to claim by year so he must do it all the time...

cullion123

TickTacToe is wrong. I contacted revenue and was told that I could expenses dental work such as crowns which I got done in the north. As far as I'm concern it is fair enough. The government took the Tax off me not the dentist and should not be state subsidising dentists with our own tax money. If I am getting tax relief for dental work then it should not matter where I get it done. Beside the charges in this country are ridicules. I don’t believe that nonsense about better services either - that totally depends on the dentist you get - there are plenty of Irish butchers around.

helimachoptor

How can the dentist up north fill in the Med 2 when it asks for their PPS number?

I've just started some treatment up north and wouldny mind saving some (more)money.

cullion123

I dont know but I did ask that question to the revenue and they said the dentist would know what to do. The girl in revenue was sure this was the case. Contact revenue and ask for details. I not sure how the online system works or if you have to send in the hard copy. I assume that the PPS number of the dentist is not the critical piece of information. Normally if revenue decide to audit someone they will contact the dentist in question. Sent in your claim at the end of the year - worse case they will refuse it.