Help to Buy Calculator

Q: How much can I get from the Help to Buy scheme?

The Help to Buy refund is the lowest of three figures: €30,000, 10% of the purchase price of the new home, and the total income tax and DIRT you paid in Ireland over the previous four tax years. The property must be a new build or self-build costing €500,000 or less, and your mortgage must be at least 70% of the purchase price.

Q: Does Help to Buy count toward my deposit?

Yes — the HTB refund is paid toward the deposit on your new build, which is why it's so valuable to first-time buyers. Combined with your own savings it must still meet the Central Bank's minimum 10% deposit requirement.

Q: Can I use Help to Buy on a second-hand house?

No. Help to Buy only applies to new builds bought from a qualifying contractor and to self-builds. Second-hand properties do not qualify, regardless of condition.

Work out your Help to Buy (HTB) refund on a new build — up to €30,000 of the income tax and DIRT you've already paid, put toward your deposit.

Purchase price (new build)

€150k€600k

Income tax + DIRT paid (last 4 years)

Combined for joint applicants

Please enter valid positive numbers.

Eligibility checklist: first-time buyer(s) · new build or self-build only · price €500,000 or less · mortgage of at least 70% of the price · tax-compliant for the last 4 years. You must live in the home for 5 years or some of the refund can be clawed back.

How the Help to Buy scheme works

Help to Buy is a Revenue incentive that refunds income tax and DIRT you've already paid — up to €30,000 — to use as a deposit on a newly built home. It exists to help first-time buyers bridge the deposit gap on new builds, and it's claimed through Revenue's online systems before you close the purchase, with the refund paid directly to the contractor as part of your deposit.

Your refund is the lowest of three numbers: €30,000, 10% of the purchase price, and the income tax plus DIRT you actually paid over the previous four tax years. USC and PRSI don't count toward the refund.

Worked example

Say you're buying a new build for €380,000 and you and your partner paid €40,000 in income tax over the last four years. Ten percent of the price is €38,000 — but the scheme maximum is €30,000, so your refund is €30,000. On a €250,000 new build, 10% of the price (€25,000) would be the binding limit instead. And if you'd only paid €18,000 in tax over the four years, €18,000 would be your ceiling regardless of price.

Stack it with the First Home Scheme. You can combine HTB with the First Home Scheme — the state equity that bridges any remaining gap — though using both caps the FHS share at 20% of the price instead of 30%.

Frequently asked questions

How much can I get from the Help to Buy scheme?

The lowest of €30,000, 10% of the purchase price, and the income tax + DIRT you paid over the previous four tax years. The home must be a new build or self-build costing €500,000 or less, with a mortgage of at least 70% of the price.

Does Help to Buy count toward my deposit?

Yes — the refund is paid toward your deposit, which is exactly why it's so valuable. Your own savings plus HTB must still meet the Central Bank's minimum 10% deposit.

Can I use Help to Buy on a second-hand house?

No. HTB only applies to new builds bought from a Revenue-qualifying contractor, and to self-builds. Second-hand homes don't qualify.

Rules as reviewed July 2026. The Help to Buy scheme's rates, caps and end date are set by the Government and can change in the Budget — verify the current rules on Revenue.ie before relying on this estimate. This is not financial or tax advice.