Help to Buy (HTB) scheme

How do you apply for HTB?

There are three stages to the online process:

• application stage
• claim stage
• verification stage.

Application stage

Before starting your application, please ensure you are tax compliant. You can apply as:

• an individual
• part of a group.

Use myAccount or Revenue Online Service (ROS) to apply. Complete the declaration and select the years you wish to use for a refund.

If you are tax compliant, your application will be approved, and you will be given:

• an Application Number
• a summary of the maximum amount you can claim
• an Access Code (sent through MyEnquiries).

Keep a safe note of these numbers, you may need to provide them to your:

• lender
• contractor or solicitor at the verification stage.

Note

Even if your application is approved, all conditions of the Help to Buy (HTB) scheme must be satisfied for the claim to be approved.

A valid claim must be submitted before the application expires, otherwise your application will have to be resubmitted. Applications made between:

• 1 January and 30 September automatically expire on 31 December of the same year
• 1 October and 31 December automatically expire on 31 March of the following year.

Lenders and contractors can use Revenue’s Mortgage Query Tool to check your potential maximum HTB refund.

Claim stage

You can make your claim using ROS or MyAccount once your application is approved, and all other conditions are satisfied.

Step 1

Upload evidence of your mortgage and, if you are:

• purchasing a new property, upload a copy of the contract, signed and dated by the vendor and all purchasers
• self-building, upload:
  • proof of the draw down of the first part of the mortgage
  • and
  • a copy of the valuation report from your lender.

Step 2

You need to confirm details about the:

• property
• purchase value (if you are purchasing a property) or approved valuation (if you are self-building)
• date of completion
• mortgage
• amount of deposit already paid.

If you are applying with other people, you will also need to confirm the portion of the refund due to each person.

If you are self-building, you will need to provide the BIC and IBAN of the relevant bank account held with your mortgage provider.

Once you have submitted your claim, you will be provided with a Claim Number.

If you enter incorrect information during your application or claim, you must cancel it. You can then submit a new application or claim before continuing to the next stage.

Verification stage

Before you receive any refund, the information you have provided will need to be verified by the:

• qualifying contractor, if you are purchasing a property
• your solicitor, if you are self-building.

When you have submitted your claim, advise your eligible verifier and provide them with your:

• Claim Number (issued after the claim stage)
• and
• Access Code (issued when your application was approved).

The refund that you receive is limited to 10% (5% under the original HTB scheme) of the:

• purchase value
• or
• approved valuation.

This may mean that it is different to the maximum relief amount advised at the application stage.

Next: Information for applicants, lending institutions, solicitors and contractors