Coeliacs entitled to 20% tax back on gluten free food purchases – Higgins

Coeliacs should be aware that they are entitled to claim back 20% of the cost of gluten free food purchases, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Emer Higgins, TD for Dublin Mid West said: “This Coeliac Awareness Week is all about raising awareness for the condition itself, the symptoms and the supports that are out there to support people living with coeliac disease.

“There are an estimated 100,000 people living with coeliac disease in Ireland and a further 450,000 who are gluten intolerant, so it’s something that impacts a significant amount of people.

“I have worked with the Coeliac Society of Ireland, along with my Fine Gael colleague, Deputy Fergus O’Dowd, to bring about clarity in the Revenue guidelines for claiming tax back on gluten free foods.

“If you are a PAYE worker and have proof of a coeliac diagnosis and purchase gluten free foods due to your condition, you are entitled to claim back 20% of the total cost incurred.

“When verifying tax relief claims on gluten free food, Revenue officials may accept: a chemist or supermarket receipt; evidence from food packaging; or an annual statement from a multiple in support of a claim, if the information provided clearly demonstrates that the foods purchased have been specifically manufactured to be gluten free and show details of the expenditure incurred.

“Revenue have also confirmed that officials may also accept information from the Coeliac Society of Ireland’s annual food list, if it is provided by a taxpayer in support of his or her claim for tax relief. This is a very welcome development.

Deputy Higgins continued: “The Coeliac Society of Ireland’s annual food list is a really helpful resource for those with coeliac disease and it is really helpful for them to know that the list can be used as support for a tax relief claim.

“I know that there are also many coeliac sufferers who cannot avail of the tax relief because they are non-PAYE workers and this is something that I am continuing to raise within my parliamentary party and within government to advocate for change in this respect,” she concluded.

ENDS