Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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619. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of applications made to the Revenue Commissioners under the mortgage interest tax relief scheme for the year 2024, by county; the number of these applications that were successful, by county; the number of these applications that were unsuccessful, by county; the cost of this scheme for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40931/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Finance Act 2023 introduced the Mortgage Interest Tax Relief (MITR). The MITR was originally made available for the 2023 year of assessment. However, in Finance Act 2024, it was extended to include the year 2024.

The relief is available to homeowners with an outstanding mortgage balance between €80,000 and €500,000 as of 31 December 2022. The relief extends to a qualifying property located in the State which is the sole or main residence of the individual’s former or separated spouse or civil partner or a dependent relative. Furthermore, the taxpayer must be compliant with Local Property Tax requirements.

The relief is available in respect of the increase in interest paid in 2023 over interest paid in 2022. It is also available in respect of the increase in interest paid in 2024 over interest paid in 2022. The amount qualifying for relief at the standard rate of tax (20%) is capped at €6,250 per property. This is equivalent to a maximum tax credit of €1,250 per property per annum.

The relief operates by way of a credit offset against the taxpayer’s income tax liability. To make a claim for 2024, taxpayers are required to file a 2024 Income Tax Return and upload certificates of mortgage interest for both 2022 and 2024, together with confirmation of their mortgage balance as of 31 December 2022.

As of 18 July 2025, 16,697 taxpayer units made claims totalling €12 million for this relief on their 2024 PAYE income tax return. 15,416 of the claimants received a refund of tax, which may have included a refund in respect of other credits and reliefs, such as health expenses. Of these, 143 claimants paid tax which was less than the full set of credits and reliefs claimed. The total of refunds issued is nearly €17.8 million.

A further 1,195 claimants are either in a balanced position or had an underpayment reduced by various reliefs and credits being applied to their record. The remaining 86 claimants are not in a position to benefit from the relief as they did not pay Income Tax in 2024.

Information is not yet available for self-assessed taxpayers as these taxpayers have until 31 October 2025 to submit their 2024 Income Tax Return.

Revenue has provided a county-by-county breakdown of all claims made below. A further breakdown of the number of successful and unsuccessful applications by county is not available as this relief is administered via a self-declared/assessed tax credit. Revenue do not have details on the numbers of taxpayers who did not progress with their claim, as they did not complete the required details/fields on their Tax Return.