Tax refund and other benefits (emmigrated)

bkkrebel

Hi everyone,

I emmigrated at the start of the year, having only worked in Ireland for a couple of months of the 2010 tax year (I am Irish) and so I can claim back the €600 or so in PAYE that I paid. Can I also claim other taxes back, such as PRSI and Income Tax Levy, etc.?

The thing is, I have a mortgage in Ireland and so I am still getting "mortgage tax relief" or whatever it is called, to the value of €50-60 per week. I also still received the childrens allowance supplent thingy for €150 per month. I recently received a form in relation to the latter, upon which I disclosed that I am out of the country, explaining that I will be returning as soon as possible pending employment prospects, etc. and I continue to receive the benefit. I am however concerned that if I register a claim for a tax refund they might start looking deeper and take a new view on my eligibility for both mortage tax relief and child benefit (in light of recent IMF demands etc.).

Can anyone advise me, am I likely to draw unecessary attention to myself if I submit a claim for income tax refund (bearing in mind also that the child benefit claim is in my wifes name, not mine)? If I am, then it is not worth the €600 to risk loosing benefits and reliefs to the tune of €2,500 or so per year!

Many thanks!

3DataModem

Four relevant questions; what country are you living in, where do your wife and kids live, are you working and paying income tax where you are living, is your house rented out?

bkkrebel

3DataModem wrote: »

Four relevant questions; what country are you living in, where do your wife and kids live, are you working and paying income tax where you are living, is your house rented out?

Thanks for your reply. Answers to 4 questions below:

what country are you living in

Thailand

where do your wife and kids live

1 child, 3yrs old. Wife and child are here with me at the moment, but are travelling back and forth frequently.

are you working and paying income tax where you are living

Yes and yes.

is your house rented out?

No. I have a mortgage on it, which is in good standing.

3DataModem

OK your wife and kids could be deemed resident in Ireland for Child Benefit purposes (you maintain a home in Ireland and they spend a lot of time there). It is worth checking the residence criteria on citizens information website. Also worth giving your local SW office a call to clarify. i really don't think that your tax refund application will impact this (it didn't for me) provided your wife legitimately meets the criteria to claim in Ireland.

You are very unlikely to be entitled to Mortgage Relief in Ireland if you are not paying Irish Income tax here of any kind. This is irrespective of where you live. This will come up when you do your tax return at the end of the year. I also don't think your tax refund application will impact this.

bkkrebel

Well thanks for the reply.

I think for the time being, I will let sleeping dogs lay.... I can claim income tax back for several years, can't I?

I'm a little spooked over the mortgage tax relief thingy......