If you are self-assessed (self-employed, a landlord, or have significant non-PAYE income), you must pay preliminary tax each year. Getting it wrong means interest charges.
You can pay either 100% of last year's liability (safe option) or 90% of this year's liability (useful if income is falling). For the first year of self-assessment, use 90% of current year.
31 October for paper filers, mid-November for ROS filers. This is the same deadline as your prior year tax return.
Interest runs at 0.0219% per day from the due date. On a EUR 10,000 underpayment, that is roughly EUR 800 per year in interest.
If this is your first year filing a Form 11, you cannot use the 100% prior year method (there is no prior year). You must estimate your current year liability and pay 90% of it. Be conservative in your estimate to avoid interest charges.
David is a landlord with rental income of EUR 20,000 and PAYE income of EUR 55,000. Last year his total tax liability was EUR 18,500. He has two options for preliminary tax:
Most advisors recommend the 100% prior year method unless your income is clearly falling.
If your non-PAYE income is modest, you can ask Revenue to collect the tax by reducing your PAYE tax credits. This avoids having to make a lump-sum preliminary tax payment. Contact Revenue through myAccount to arrange this. It only works if the amount is manageable relative to your PAYE income.
If your preliminary tax turns out to be more than your actual liability, Revenue will refund the difference after you file your return. The refund is typically processed within a few weeks of filing through ROS.
Disclaimer: This information reflects the 2026 tax year. Tax rules change annually following the Budget. Check Revenue.ie for the latest rates and thresholds. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice.