Help to Buy Refund Raised to €35,000 in Budget Package
Wednesday 7 October 2026
The Help to Buy tax refund for first-time buyers has increased from €30,000 to €35,000, alongside adjustments to domestic heating carbon tax rates.
The maximum tax refund under the Help to Buy scheme has increased from €30,000 to €35,000 following announced Budget changes.
The adjustment was outlined as part of an expenditure package presented by ministers Jack Chambers and Simon Harris, which increased overall government spending by €7.1 billion to €125.6 billion. The measure raises the maximum rebate available to first-time purchasers by €5,000.
Alongside the property incentive, the budget altered energy-related taxation. The carbon tax rate on home heating oil and gas was reduced from €63.50 to €48.50 per tonne of CO2. Furthermore, excise duty cuts of 27 cent per litre on petrol and 32 cent per litre on diesel were extended until 28 February 2027.