Sportsperson's Relief

About the relief

Criteria for relief

You may qualify for this relief if you are a retired:

  • athlete
  • badminton player
  • boxer
  • cricketer
  • cyclist
  • footballer
  • golfer
  • jockey
  • motor racing driver
  • rugby player
  • squash player
  • swimmer
  • tennis player.

You must have permanently finished or retired from that profession. You may continue to participate in the sport on an amateur or unpaid basis.

At the time of retirement, you must be resident in one of the following locations:

  • Ireland
  • a European Union (EU) state
  • a European Economic Area (EEA) state
  • a European Free Trade Association (EFTA) state.

Calculating the relief

You may claim a deduction of 40% of certain income arising in any 10 of the following years:

  • your year of retirement
  • or
  • the preceding 14 years of assessment.

Qualifying income for relief

The tax relief applies to your earnings directly from participation in the sport only, such as wages or prize money. Any income you earned from items such as personal appearances, sponsorship or interviews does not qualify for tax relief.

Limits on relief

You may not use the relief to create a tax loss in any year of assessment.

If you return to professional sports after you claim the relief, the relief will be withdrawn. Any relief paid by Revenue will be due back to us as this relief is only available when you fully retire.

Relief is available in respect of Income Tax only. No deduction is available in respect of Universal Social Charge (USC) or Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI).

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