Dwelling House Relief is one of the most valuable — and most misunderstood — reliefs in Irish tax law. In this Tax Tip, I break down who qualifies, what conditions need to be met, and the common mistakes that can cost people the relief entirely.
Watch the Video
Key Points
Dwelling House Relief can exempt the full value of a residential property from Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) — whether received as a gift or an inheritance. For properties worth hundreds of thousands of euro, that’s a substantial saving.
But the conditions are strict. The person receiving the property must have lived in it as their principal private residence for a defined period before the gift or inheritance. They must not have an interest in any other residential property. And there are rules about how long they need to continue living in it afterwards.
The relief is generous when it applies — but Revenue scrutinise claims closely, and the conditions must be met precisely. Getting advice early is important, particularly if you’re planning a transfer rather than reacting to an inheritance.
Thinking about transferring a property? Let’s check whether Dwelling House Relief applies to your situation.
