Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revenue) Edition RPC017216_EN_WB_L_1 (January 2023) 2 pages

Claim for Blind Person's Tax Credit & Guide Dog Allowance

Revenue's one-page paper claim for the tax credit for blind or visually impaired adults, and the allowance for keeping a trained guide dog.

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Blind Person's Tax Credit claim · Claim for Blind Person's Tax Credit & Guide Dog Allowance
The official Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revenue) form, edition RPC017216_EN_WB_L_1 (January 2023) — blank
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Blind Person's Tax Credit claim (2023) Claim for Blind Person's Tax Credit & Guide Dog Allowance — page 1 of 2
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Blind Person's Tax Credit claim (2023) Claim for Blind Person's Tax Credit & Guide Dog Allowance — page 2 of 2
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Fill this form online Blank PDF from Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revenue)

What is Blind Person's Tax Credit claim?

If you, your spouse or civil partner, or both of you are blind or have seriously impaired vision, Revenue gives a tax credit that reduces the income tax you pay. When both of you are blind, the credit is doubled. Revenue's page (published February 2026) lists the credit as EUR 1,950 a year, or EUR 3,900 when both spouses or civil partners are blind.

If you keep a trained guide dog, the Guide Dog Allowance adds EUR 825 a year, given at the 20% standard rate (worth EUR 165 in tax), for each dog. Both are claimed on the same paper form, or through myAccount.

FileIt asks the form's questions in plain English, puts your PPSN, tax year, IBAN and date into their boxes, and prints everything onto Revenue's own PDF. You print it, sign the declaration, and send it to Revenue yourself.

Who fills it
A blind or visually impaired adult, or their spouse or civil partner
Sent to
Your Revenue office
Length
1 page to fill in, plus a page of notes
One form covers
One tax year
Time limit
Within four years after the end of the tax year
Signatures
You sign the declaration

Who needs to fill out Blind Person's Tax Credit claim?

  • Adults whose central visual acuity does not exceed 6/60 in the better eye with correcting lenses.
  • Adults whose field of vision is restricted so that its widest diameter subtends an angle of 20 degrees or less.
  • Married couples and civil partners where one or both are blind (tick both boxes if both are).
  • Owners of a trained guide dog registered with Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.
  • Not for a blind child: the Incapacitated Child Tax Credit covers children.

When to use Blind Person's Tax Credit claim

  • When you first become eligible, or when you want the credit added for a tax year you missed.
  • When you'd rather post a paper claim than use myAccount.
  • For an earlier year, within four years after the end of that year. A separate form for each year.

What you need before you start

  • Your name, address with Eircode, and PPSN.
  • The tax year you're claiming for.
  • A certificate from an ophthalmic surgeon stating the degree of blindness and whether it's temporary or permanent.
  • For the Guide Dog Allowance: the number of dogs and a letter from Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind for each one.
  • Your IBAN and BIC if you want any refund paid into a SEPA bank account.

What’s on Blind Person's Tax Credit claim

The 2023 edition has 2 pages. FileIt asks for it in 5 parts, and it is signed by Claimant:

  1. Your detailsClaimant
  2. Blind Person's Tax CreditClaimant
  3. Guide Dog AllowanceClaimant
  4. Refunds: your bank account (SEPA)Claimant
  5. DeclarationClaimant

How to fill out Blind Person's Tax Credit claim, step by step

1 Your details

Your name and address share the box at the top. Add your PPSN and the tax year the claim is for.

2 The certificate

Say whether you have an ophthalmic surgeon's certificate. You keep it rather than send it, but Revenue may ask to see it.

3 Who you're claiming for

Tick Self, Spouse or civil partner, or both if you are both blind.

4 Guide Dog Allowance

Switch this part on only if you keep a trained guide dog. Give the number of dogs and confirm you hold the registration letter.

5 Refunds

Optionally give a SEPA IBAN and BIC. Revenue then pays refunds for earlier years into that account, and uses it for later refunds too.

6 Declaration

Give the date, your e-mail and phone number. FileIt repeats your address beside the declaration. You sign once the form is printed.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Relying on a certificate from an optician or GP. Revenue needs one from an ophthalmic surgeon.
  • Claiming for a child. Use the Incapacitated Child Tax Credit instead.
  • Ticking only Self when both spouses or civil partners are blind, and missing the double credit.
  • Putting two tax years on one form.
  • Giving a bank account outside SEPA, which Revenue can't pay into.

After you fill it out

Print the form, sign the declaration and send it to your Revenue office.

Keep the surgeon's certificate and any guide dog letters for six years, as the claim may be selected for audit.

For the current year, Revenue sends an amended Tax Credit Certificate and your employer refunds any tax due. For earlier years, Revenue pays the refund directly.

A copy of the filled form stays in your FileIt vault.

Fill out Blind Person's Tax Credit claim online with FileIt

  1. Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
  2. Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 15 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
  3. Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revenue) form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
  4. Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault. Sign it, or send it for e-signature.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start Blind Person's Tax Credit claim now — it’s free

Blind Person's Tax Credit claim: frequently asked questions

How much is the Blind Person's Tax Credit?

Revenue's page lists EUR 1,950 a year for a single person or where one spouse or civil partner is blind, and EUR 3,900 where both are. Check revenue.ie for the year you're claiming, as the amounts can change in each Budget.

Do I send the eye surgeon's certificate with the form?

No. The form says you don't need to send it, but you should keep it, and any guide dog letter, for six years in case Revenue asks for it.

Can I claim the Guide Dog Allowance on its own?

The allowance is for blind or visually impaired people who keep a trained guide dog, and you can claim it alongside the Blind Person's Tax Credit on this form.

Can I claim for previous years?

Yes. A repayment claim must be made within four years after the end of the tax year, so use one form for each year you're claiming.

Is there an online way to claim?

Yes. Revenue lets you add both credits in myAccount under 'Manage your tax' and upload supporting documents there. This paper form is the alternative.

Official sources

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revenue) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-19.

Fill out Blind Person's Tax Credit claim online