Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

78. To ask the Minister for Finance his estimate of the number of persons in County Cavan who are eligible to claim the rent tax credit; his estimate of the number of persons in County Monaghan eligible to claim the rent tax credit; the number of persons in County Cavan currently claiming it; the number of persons in County Monaghan currently claiming it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11325/23]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

83. To ask the Minister for Finance if the total number of persons who have successfully claimed the rent tax credit recently introduced by the Government; if this measure will be strengthened into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11343/23]

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

92. To ask the Minister for Finance the total number of applications for the rent tax credit to date in 2023; if a county breakdown of the claims is available; when the first credits will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11306/23]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

97. To ask the Minister for Finance his estimate of the number of persons in County Kildare who are eligible to claim the rent tax credit; the number of persons in County Kildare currently claiming it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11369/23]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

98. To ask the Minister for Finance his estimate of the number of persons in County Tipperary eligible to claim the rent rax credit; the number of persons currently claiming it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11310/23]

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

101. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the number of persons who have availed of the new rent tax credit since it was introduced; the number awarded the credit who provided an RTB registration number in their application compared with those who have not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10257/23]

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

114. To ask the Minister for Finance his estimate of the number of persons in Dublin eligible to claim the rent tax credit; the number of persons currently claiming it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11303/23]

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

132. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of people who have claimed the rent tax credit to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10973/23]

Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

138. To ask the Minister for Finance his estimate of the number of persons in County Longford who are eligible to claim the rent tax credit; the number of persons in County Longford currently claiming it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11350/23]

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

250. To ask the Minister for Finance his estimate of the number of persons in County Carlow who are eligible to claim the rent tax credit; the number of people in County Carlow currently claiming it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11312/23]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 83, 92, 97, 98, 101, 114, 132, 138 and 250 together.

The Finance Act 2022 introduced the Rent Tax Credit, which is provided for in section 473B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. This is an income tax credit of up to €500 per year (or up to €1,000 for jointly assessed couples) which may be claimed in respect of qualifying rent paid in 2022 and subsequent years to end-2025.

As regards the numbers of persons eligible to claim the Rent Tax Credit in 2023, approximately 400,000 persons are estimated to be eligible. This estimate was compiled using Central Statistics Office (CSO) data relating to the national rental sector from January to June 2021. The estimate is not broken down on a county by county basis.

I am advised by Revenue that the most recent breakdown of Rent Tax Credit claims, published on 2 March 2023, is available on the Revenue website, and which sets out data to 27 February.

The Rent Tax Credit statistics refer to claims by PAYE taxpayers for the 2022 tax year and the 2023 tax year to date. Data on claims by self-assessed taxpayers is not yet available as these taxpayers’ returns are generally submitted later in the year.

The publication shows 167,645 claims and that:

- 162,082 taxpayers made claims for 2022 only,

- 3,595 taxpayers made claims for both 2022 and 2023, and

- 1,968 taxpayers made claims for 2023 only.

Claims in respect of the 2022 year of assessment have been made by PAYE taxpayers by submitting an Income Tax return for 2022 through Revenue’s online facility, myAccount. For claims relating to the 2023 year of assessment, those in receipt of income which is subject to tax under the PAYE system have been able to claim the rent tax credit due to them in-year, from 20th February 2023 onwards, or will be able to claim by way of an end of year claim included in his or her Income Tax return for 2023. I am further advised that the resulting refunds have been issuing since the 3 January 2023.

The provision of a Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) registration number is not a mandatory part of the claim process. However, I am advised by Revenue that to date over 76,500 claimants have provided an RTB registration number.

The Rent Tax Credit claims made are on a ‘tax unit’ basis. A taxpayer unit is either an individual with any personal status who is singly assessed or a couple in a marriage or civil partnership who have elected for joint assessment.

In relation to the questions asked by Deputies Smith, McAuliffe, Murnane O'Connor, Cahill, Flaherty and Lawless, the breakdown of the number of taxpayers claiming the Rent Tax Credit by county was as follows:

Carlow, 1,420

Cavan, 1,227

Clare, 1,908

Cork, 19,182

Donegal, 1,950

Dublin, 80,385

Galway, 12,331

Kerry, 2,280

Kildare, 5,713

Kilkenny, 1,658

Laois, 1,205

Leitrim, 501

Limerick, 8,246

Longford, 891

Louth, 2,044

Mayo, 2,115

Meath, 2,748

Monaghan, 968

Offaly, 1,202

Roscommon, 1,006

Sligo, 1,878

Tipperary, 2,548

Waterford, 3,213

Westmeath, 2,345

Wexford, 2,459

Wicklow, 1,852

Unmatched, 4,370

The operation of the Rent Tax Credit will be closely monitored by my Department in conjunction with Revenue in the coming months and the question of whether any further adjustments are needed will be considered in the context of the annual Budget and Finance Bill process.