Rent Relief

Hey,

I rented in college from 2009 until 2011. I was also working part time during this period and want to claim rent relief. Can this be done?

I am now working full time and the credit would mean that I could claim the relief for 2012 which would make a big impact on my tax payable this year.

Does anyone know the definition of sole residence or whether the relief can be claimed as a student.

Thanks

It cannot be claimed as a student (full time) but possibly if you are working parttime. However, it seems unlikely you paid enough tax to qualify for the relief:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055373394

Its being phased out anyway:

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/credits/rent-credit.html

Tax years 2011 to 2017 inclusive
Credit for rent paid will be withdrawn on a phased basis over the next 7 years. To see the maximum amount of the credit that will be due, see Leaflet IT 1.

The credit for the years 2011 onwards applies to individuals who were renting a propety on 7 December 2010. No credit is due to individuals who began renting after 7 December 2010.

No harm applying for it --- just because you have no taxes to use it dose not mean that they cannot give you the tax credit. --- they just wont give you any money for the years where you had no taxes paid to use it against but it should mean that you can claim going fwd