If you're working as a delivery driver in Ireland—whether for Just Eat, Deliveroo, Uber Eats, An Post, DPD, or any courier service—you could be entitled to significant tax refunds that you might not even know about. With rising fuel costs and vehicle expenses in 2025, understanding your entitlements for mileage relief and work-related expenses has never been more important. Thousands of delivery drivers across Ireland are missing out on tax refunds averaging €800 to €1,500 per year simply because they're unaware of what they can claim back.
Understanding Tax Refunds for Delivery Drivers in Ireland
As a delivery driver operating under PAYE (Pay As You Earn), you're taxed on your gross income before many legitimate work expenses are deducted. The Irish tax system allows you to claim relief on expenses that are wholly, exclusively, and necessarily incurred in the performance of your job duties. For delivery drivers, this primarily includes mileage costs when using your own vehicle, but extends to various other expenses that directly relate to your work.
The key principle is that if you're using your personal vehicle for work purposes and your employer doesn't fully reimburse you, you can claim tax relief on the difference. Many delivery drivers either receive no mileage reimbursement from their employers or receive payments below the Revenue-approved Civil Service rates. This creates an opportunity to claim back the tax you've overpaid on these unreimbursed expenses.
For the 2024/2025 tax year, Revenue allows claims based on the Civil Service mileage rates: 45.81 cent per kilometre for cars and 26.42 cent per kilometre for motorcycles. If your employer pays you less than these rates (or nothing at all), you can claim tax relief on the difference at your marginal tax rate—either 20% or 40% depending on your income level. Additionally, you'll save on USC (Universal Social Charge) and potentially PRSI (Pay Related Social Insurance), making the actual refund even more valuable.
What Expenses Can Delivery Drivers Claim?
Delivery drivers in Ireland can claim tax relief on a comprehensive range of work-related expenses. Understanding exactly what qualifies is essential to maximizing your refund:
Mileage and Vehicle Running Costs
This is typically the largest component of a delivery driver's tax refund claim. When you use your own vehicle for work deliveries, you can claim for every business kilometre travelled. The mileage rate covers all running costs including fuel, insurance, maintenance, depreciation, and general wear and tear. You need to maintain accurate records of your business mileage, typically through a logbook or mileage tracking app. Personal journeys (like your commute from home to your base depot) generally don't qualify, but all delivery-related travel does.
Mobile Phone Expenses
If you use your personal mobile phone for work purposes—whether for receiving delivery notifications, contacting customers, coordinating with dispatchers, or using delivery apps—you can claim a proportion of your phone bill. Revenue typically accepts claims for the business portion of your monthly contract or top-up costs. For delivery drivers who rely heavily on their phones throughout their shifts, this can represent 60-80% of total phone expenses.
Protective Clothing and Equipment
Any specialized clothing or equipment required for your delivery work may qualify for tax relief. This includes high-visibility jackets, waterproof clothing, thermal wear for cold weather deliveries, safety boots, insulated delivery bags, and phone mounts for your vehicle. The key requirement is that these items must be necessary for your work and not suitable for everyday personal use.
Parking and Tolls
If you regularly incur parking charges or toll fees while making deliveries, and these aren't reimbursed by your employer, you can claim tax relief on these expenses. Keep all receipts and clearly document which charges relate to work activities.
Real-World Examples: How Much Can You Actually Save?
Example 1: Food Delivery Cyclist (Part-Time)
Sarah works part-time for Deliveroo in Dublin, cycling approximately 8,000 kilometres per year for deliveries. She earns €15,000 annually and pays tax at the 20% rate. She receives no mileage reimbursement from her employer. Using a bicycle, she can claim 24 cent per kilometre under Revenue's approved rates for bicycles used for work purposes.
Calculation:
- Annual business kilometres: 8,000 km
- Rate per kilometre: €0.24
- Total claimable amount: 8,000 × €0.24 = €1,920
- Tax relief at 20%: €1,920 × 20% = €384
- USC relief (approximately 2% on this amount): €38
- Total annual refund: €422
Over four years (the maximum claim period), Sarah could receive: €1,688
Example 2: Full-Time Courier Driver (Car)
Michael works full-time for a courier company, driving his own car approximately 25,000 kilometres per year for deliveries. He earns €38,000 annually, placing him in the 40% tax bracket for a portion of his income. His employer reimburses him at 30 cent per kilometre. He also spends €600 annually on his mobile phone (80% work use) and €200 on protective clothing.
Calculation:
- Annual business kilometres: 25,000 km
- Revenue approved rate: €0.4581 per km
- Employer reimbursement: €0.30 per km
- Shortfall per kilometre: €0.1581
- Total mileage shortfall: 25,000 × €0.1581 = €3,952.50
- Mobile phone (80% business use): €600 × 80% = €480
- Protective clothing: €200
- Total claimable expenses: €4,632.50
- Tax relief at 40%: €4,632.50 × 40% = €1,853
- USC relief (approximately 4.5%): €208
- Total annual refund: €2,061
Over four years, Michael could claim back: €8,244
Example 3: Motorcycle Delivery Driver
James delivers for Just Eat using his own motorcycle, covering approximately 18,000 kilometres annually. He earns €28,000 per year and pays tax at 20%. He receives no mileage reimbursement. He also claims €500 for his mobile phone (70% work use) and €300 for specialized motorcycle gear including thermal gloves and waterproofs.
Calculation:
- Annual business kilometres: 18,000 km
- Motorcycle rate: €0.2642 per km
- Total mileage claim: 18,000 × €0.2642 = €4,755.60
- Mobile phone (70% business use): €500 × 70% = €350
- Protective gear: €300
- Total claimable expenses: €5,405.60
- Tax relief at 20%: €5,405.60 × 20% = €1,081.12
- USC relief (approximately 2.5%): €135
- Total annual refund: €1,216
Over four years, James could receive: €4,864
How the Tax Refund Process Works for Delivery Drivers
Claiming your tax refund as a delivery driver involves submitting a comprehensive claim to Revenue that documents all your eligible work-related expenses. The process requires gathering evidence of your employment, calculating your business mileage accurately, collecting receipts for other expenses, and completing the appropriate Revenue forms.
You can claim for the current tax year and up to four previous years, meaning if you've been working as a delivery driver since 2021 and haven't claimed expenses, you could be entitled to a substantial lump sum refund. Revenue processes these claims by adjusting your tax credits and issuing a refund cheque or direct bank transfer for the overpaid tax.
The challenge many delivery drivers face is understanding exactly what documentation is required, how to calculate claims correctly, and how to present the information in the format Revenue requires. Incorrect or incomplete claims can be rejected or delayed, which is why many delivery drivers choose to work with professional tax refund services that specialize in PAYE worker claims.
Record-Keeping Requirements for Delivery Drivers
Proper documentation is absolutely essential for a successful tax refund claim. Revenue requires you to maintain adequate records to support your claim, and they may request evidence during their review process.
For mileage claims, you should maintain a detailed logbook recording the date, starting and ending locations, purpose of journey, and kilometres travelled for each work-related trip. Many delivery drivers use smartphone apps that automatically track and categorize their journeys, making record-keeping significantly easier. You should also keep documentation showing your vehicle ownership, insurance, and any maintenance records that demonstrate ongoing costs.
For other expenses like mobile phone bills, keep all monthly statements or top-up receipts. For protective clothing and equipment, retain all purchase receipts clearly showing the date, item description, and amount paid. If you incur parking or toll charges, photograph or keep physical receipts for each instance where possible.
Revenue can request to see these records for up to six years after a claim, so maintaining organized records is crucial. Digital copies are acceptable and often easier to manage than physical paperwork.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Claiming
Many delivery drivers unknowingly reduce their refunds or have claims rejected due to common errors. One frequent mistake is claiming for your daily commute from home to your work base—this is considered personal travel and doesn't qualify. Only mileage for actual deliveries and work-related journeys qualifies.
Another error is claiming expenses that your employer has already reimbursed. You can only claim the shortfall between what your employer pays and the Revenue-approved rates. Double-claiming leads to rejected applications and potential complications with Revenue.
Some drivers also fail to differentiate between capital purchases and allowable expenses. For example, buying a new vehicle is a capital expense and isn't claimable in the same way as running costs. However, the depreciation component is factored into the per-kilometre rate, so you're still receiving relief for this when you claim mileage.
Failing to maintain adequate records is perhaps the most damaging mistake. Without proper documentation, Revenue may reduce or reject your claim entirely, regardless of whether the expenses were genuinely incurred. This is where professional assistance from services like PAYE tax refund specialists can prove invaluable.
Tax Relief for Different Types of Delivery Drivers
Food Delivery Platform Workers
If you work for platforms like Deliveroo, Just Eat, or Uber Eats, your tax situation depends on your employment status. Most platform workers are considered self-employed contractors rather than PAYE employees. However, some work through intermediary companies as PAYE employees. If you're PAYE, you can claim expenses as outlined in this guide. If you're self-employed, you claim expenses differently through your annual tax return, though the types of expenses remain similar.
Courier and Parcel Delivery Drivers
Drivers working for companies like An Post, DPD, Fastway, or other courier services are typically PAYE employees and can claim mileage and expense relief if they use their own vehicles. The high daily mileage common in courier work often results in substantial refunds, frequently ranging from €1,500 to €3,000 annually for full-time drivers.
Grocery and Retail Delivery Drivers
If you deliver for supermarkets like Tesco, SuperValu, or other retail operations, you may be entitled to claims depending on whether you use a company vehicle or your own. Drivers using personal vehicles for deliveries can claim, while those using company-provided vans cannot claim vehicle-related expenses but may still claim for other work expenses like mobile phones or protective clothing.
How MyTaxRebate.ie Can Maximize Your Delivery Driver Refund
Navigating the tax refund process can be complex and time-consuming, especially when you're working long hours on the road. MyTaxRebate.ie specializes in helping delivery drivers and other PAYE workers throughout Ireland claim every euro they're entitled to.
Our expert team understands the specific circumstances delivery drivers face and knows exactly what Revenue requires for successful claims. We handle all the paperwork, calculations, and communication with Revenue on your behalf, ensuring your claim is complete, accurate, and maximized. With our service, you can focus on your work while we focus on getting you the largest possible refund.
We work on a success-based fee structure, meaning you only pay when your claim is successful and you receive your refund. Our team will review your situation, identify all eligible expenses you may not have considered, and handle your tax refund claim from start to finish. Most of our delivery driver clients are surprised by how much they're entitled to claim, with many receiving refunds significantly larger than they expected.
The process is straightforward: provide us with your employment details and expense information, and we'll take care of everything else. We'll calculate your exact entitlement, prepare and submit your claim to Revenue, and follow up until your refund is processed and paid directly to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim tax back if my employer already reimburses me for mileage?
Yes, but only if your employer pays you less than the Revenue-approved Civil Service rates. For 2024/2025, these rates are 45.81 cent per kilometre for cars and 26.42 cent per kilometre for motorcycles. If your employer pays 30 cent per kilometre, for example, you can claim tax relief on the difference of 15.81 cent per kilometre. If your employer pays the full Revenue rate or more, you cannot make an additional claim for that mileage.
How far back can I claim tax refunds as a delivery driver?
You can claim for the current tax year plus the previous four years. This means in 2025, you can claim back to 2021. If you've been working as a delivery driver throughout this period and haven't previously claimed expenses, you could be entitled to a substantial lump sum covering all those years. However, you must make claims within these time limits—once a tax year becomes older than four years, you lose the right to claim for that year.
Do I need to keep physical receipts for fuel purchases?
No, when you claim using the standard mileage rate (45.81 cent per kilometre for cars), you don't need to provide fuel receipts because this rate already covers all running costs including fuel, insurance, maintenance, and depreciation. You only need to maintain a detailed mileage log showing your business kilometres. However, if you choose to claim actual costs instead of the standard rate (which is rarely advantageous), you would need all receipts. For most delivery drivers, the standard mileage rate is simpler and more beneficial.
What if I work for multiple delivery companies—can I claim for all of them?
Yes, absolutely. If you work for multiple employers (for example, delivering for both Just Eat and Deliveroo), you can combine all your business mileage and expenses into a single tax refund claim. You'll need to provide employment details for each company and accurately track which kilometres relate to which employer, but all legitimate work-related expenses across all your PAYE employment can be included in your claim.
Will claiming expenses affect my social welfare entitlements or tax credits?
No, claiming legitimate work expenses will not negatively impact your tax credits or social welfare entitlements. Tax relief on expenses simply ensures you're only taxed on your net income after allowable work costs are deducted, which is how the tax system is designed to work. Your gross income remains the same for social welfare assessment purposes. In fact, claiming your entitled expenses ensures you're paying the correct amount of tax rather than overpaying, putting more money back in your pocket where it belongs.
Start Your Delivery Driver Tax Refund Claim Today
If you're a delivery driver in Ireland using your own vehicle or incurring work-related expenses, you're likely entitled to a tax refund that could put hundreds or even thousands of euros back in your pocket. Don't leave this money with Revenue when it rightfully belongs to you.
MyTaxRebate.ie has helped thousands of delivery drivers across Ireland claim their full tax entitlements quickly and easily. Our expert team knows exactly what delivery drivers can claim and how to maximize your refund while ensuring your claim meets all Revenue requirements.
Start your claim today with MyTaxRebate.ie and discover how much you could be entitled to. With our simple process and success-based fees, you have nothing to lose and potentially thousands of euros to gain. Contact us now to begin your delivery driver tax refund claim and get the money you've earned back where it belongs—in your bank account.