Help-to-Buy HTB Calculator 2026 (Ireland First-Time Buyers)
Calculate your Ireland Help-to-Buy (HTB) refund for 2026. The scheme refunds up to €30,000 (or 10% of the new-build price, whichever is lower) from income tax and USC paid in the previous 4 tax years. Extended to December 2029 via Finance Act 2024. Free, private, no sign-up. Last updated: May 2026. Source: revenue.ie.
Ireland Help-to-Buy HTB 2026 — How the Refund is Calculated
The Help-to-Buy (HTB) scheme is an Irish government incentive that allows first-time buyers to reclaim income tax and USC paid in the previous 4 tax years toward the deposit on a new-build or self-build home. The refund is capped at the lowest of three limits: (1) 10% of the property purchase price, (2) the statutory maximum of €30,000, and (3) the total income tax and USC actually paid in the 4 preceding tax years. If you paid €25,000 in tax and USC over 4 years, your maximum refund is €25,000 (even if 10% of your property is €38,000). The property price must not exceed €500,000, and your mortgage must be at least 70% of the purchase price (LTV). Source: revenue.ie. Last updated: May 2026.
HTB Eligibility Requirements for 2026
To qualify for Help-to-Buy in 2026, you must be a first-time buyer — meaning you have never previously bought or built a residential property anywhere in the world. If you are buying jointly, all purchasers must be first-time buyers. The property must be a new-build or a self-build intended as your primary residence — second-hand properties do not qualify. You must have a mortgage of at least 70% LTV from a qualifying lender. Both you and the property must be tax-compliant for the 4 preceding tax years. Approval is obtained via Revenue Online Service (ROS) or MyAccount on revenue.ie and is valid for 12 months.
How to Apply for Help-to-Buy via Revenue.ie
The application is fully online through Revenue's MyAccount or ROS. Step 1: log in to Revenue MyAccount → navigate to 'Help to Buy' → submit your application with property details and tax history. Step 2: Revenue issues an Approval in Principle letter — share this with your mortgage lender and the property contractor. Step 3: when contracts are signed, raise a claim in Revenue's HTB portal — the refund is paid directly to the contractor (new-build) or your bank (self-build). The HTB scheme has been extended to 31 December 2029. It can be combined with the First Home Scheme (FHS) on firsthomescheme.ie for additional support.