Home carers warned on entitlements

HOME CARERS COULD BE LOSING OUT ON UP TO €1,500 IN TAX RELIEF, FIANNA FÁIL TD JOHN BRASSIL HAS WARNED

PEOPLE caring for others in the home could be losing out on up to €1,500 in tax relief each year because they are not aware of a tax scheme recognising their work.

Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry John Brassil has warned that potentially thousands of Kerry families might be missing out on the vital tax relief at present.

He said that in the course of his work in the area it has become apparent to him that many carers are entirely unaware of the Home Carer Tax Credit, a credit devised to help families where one parent works in the home caring for children and/or dependent people.

“As part of our negotiations with Fine Gael on Budget 2019, Fianna Fáil sought and secured a €300 increase in the Home Carer Tax Credit. However, it seems to me that many people are not aware of this tax credit and may be missing out,” Deputy Brassil warned. “All too often people miss out on tax relief they are entitled to. The Government and Revenue must do better to highlight reliefs that are available to different citizens.

“According to the Central Statistics Office, there are currently 146,698 family units where one parent is staying at home to care for children. It is very likely that there are hundreds if not thousands of Kerry families not benefiting from this credit because they are not aware of it. More now needs to be done to increase the uptake of this credit.”

Kerry Fianna Fáil TD John Brassil