Skip to Content

Help To Buy Scheme - Supports and Grants for First Time Buyers

What is the Help to Buy Scheme?

The Help to Buy Scheme helps first‑time buyers with the deposit for a new build or self‑build home by refunding some of the income tax and DIRT they have paid in the previous four years.

Eligible buyers can claim up to 10% of the property value or €30,000 (whichever is lower), subject to conditions including a €500,000 price limit, a qualifying mortgage of at least 70%, and living in the home as their main residence for at least five years.

Who can apply for the Help to Buy Scheme?

First-time buyers who buy or self-build a new residential property between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2029 can apply for the Help to Buy Scheme. To qualify you must:

  • be buying or building your first home at the time you apply and worth €500,000 or less
  • live in the home as your main residence for at least five years after you buy or build it
  • be up to date with your taxes, and have tax clearance if needed
  • take out a mortgage with an approved lender, and the mortgage must cover at least 70% of the home’s purchase price or valuation (for self‑builds)

If you are buying or building the property with someone else, they must also be a first-time buyer.

You will not qualify if:

  • You have previously owned a home, either alone or jointly with another person, including cases where you are now separated or divorced and no longer have an interest in the property
  • You have owned a residential property outside Ireland
  • You do not intend to live in the property as your main residence for at least five years (the scheme does not apply to investment properties)
  • You are not taking out a mortgage to purchase or build the property

What homes qualify for the Help to Buy Scheme?

To qualify for the Help to Buy scheme your new home must meet certain conditions. 

  • The home must be brand new. It cannot have been lived in before or previously used as a home. If the building was used for something else and later converted into a home, it may still qualify
  • If you are buying a new home, it must be worth €500,000 or less. This is usually the price you pay, but if the price is reduced (for example, through an affordable housing scheme), the full market value is used instead
  • If you are building your own home, the official value approved by your mortgage provider must be €500,000 or less. This valuation includes the cost of the site
  • If you are buying a new home, the builder or developer must be approved by Revenue. You can check this on Revenue’s approved list
  • If you are building your own home, a Revenue‑approved solicitor must confirm your Help to Buy claim.
  • You must live in the home as your main residence for at least five years from the date it is ready to live in
  • If you do not live in the home for five years, you may have to pay back some or all of the Help to Buy money

How much can I get?

The amount of money you can get from the Help to Buy Scheme depends on which version of the scheme you are claiming under. There are currently two version of the Help to Buy Scheme.

Enhanced Help to Buy Scheme (current scheme)

If you sign a contract for a new home, or draw down a self‑build mortgage, between 23 July 2020 and 31 December 2029, you may qualify for the higher amount. Under the Enhanced Help to Buy Scheme you can receive the lowest of:

  • €30,000
  • 10% of the price of a new build home
  • 10% of the approved valuation of a self‑build
  • The total income tax and DIRT you paid in the four years before you apply

The maximum payment is €30,000 per property, even if more than one person is buying the home.

Original Help to Buy Scheme (older scheme)

If you signed a contract or drew down a self‑build mortgage between 1 January 2017 and 22 July 2020, the original limits apply. Under the original Help to Buy Scheme you can receive the lowest of:

  • €20,000
  • 5% of the price of a new build home
  • 5% of the approved valuation of a self‑build
  • The income tax and DIRT you paid in the four years before applying

The maximum payment is €20,000 per property, even if more than one person is buying the home.

How do I apply for the Help to Buy Scheme?

To apply for the Help to Buy Scheme you must complete an online application. The online application has three main stages.

  1. Apply
  2. Make your claim
  3. Claim verification

Apply

Where you apply depends on how you pay tax.

As part of the application, you must:

  • Specify whether you are applying alone or with others - you must apply as a group if more than one person is named on the mortgage except where the other named person is a guarantor
  • Complete a declaration
  • Choose which tax years you want considered for the refund
If you are tax compliant, Revenue will issue you with:

  • An Application Number
  • An Access Code (sent through MyEnquiries)
  • An estimate of the maximum Help to Buy amount you may be able to claim
  • An expiry date for your application
You should keep your application number and access code, as you will need them later for your lender, builder, or solicitor.
Top tip
Even if your application is approved, you must still meet all scheme conditions before the claim is paid. A claim must be submitted before the application expires, or you will need to apply again.

Make your claim

Step 1

Once your application is approved, you submit your claim through myAccount or ROS.

If you are buying a new home, you must upload:

  • Your mortgage offer and signed acceptance
  • The signed purchase contract An Affordable Dwelling Purchase Agreement, if applicable

If you are self‑building, you must upload:

  • Your mortgage offer and signed acceptance
  • Proof that the first part of the mortgage has been drawn down
  • The valuation report from your lender

Step 2

You must also confirm details about:

  • The purchase price or valuation
  • The completion date
  • Your mortgage, deposit, and any shared equity where applicable
  • How the refund is split if applying with others

Self‑builders must also provide the IBAN and BIC for the relevant mortgage account.

Once you submit the claim, Revenue will give you a Claim Reference Number.

Claim verification

Before any payment is made, your claim details must be checked and confirmed by:

  • The approved builder or contractor, if you are buying a new home
  • Your solicitor, if you are self‑building
You must give the verifier your:

  • Claim Reference Number
  • Access Code
The final refund is based on 10% of the purchase price or valuation (or 5% under the original scheme) and may be lower than the initial estimate given at the application stage.

How is the payment made?

For new builds, the Help to Buy payment is made directly to the builder. 

For self‑builds, the payment is made to a bank account held with your mortgage provider.

 

Sign up for the latest news from CCPC