📊 Speech & Occupational Therapy Tax Relief
- Relief rate: 20% of qualifying costs
- What qualifies: Treatment by CORU-registered SLTs and OTs
- Backdate period: Up to 4 years
- No threshold: Claim from the first euro spent
- Typical session: €80-€120 (€16-€24 back per visit)
Speech and language therapy (SLT) and occupational therapy (OT) are essential services for children and adults with developmental, neurological, or rehabilitation needs. If you've been paying privately for these therapies in Ireland, you can claim back 20% of your costs through tax relief—a benefit that many families don't realise is available to them.
At MyTaxRebate.ie, our specialists help families claim therapy costs alongside all other medical expenses they may be entitled to. With private therapy sessions often costing €80-€120 each and many children requiring weekly appointments, the tax relief can add up to thousands of euros over time.
What Speech Therapy Costs Qualify?
Speech and language therapy covers a broad range of communication and swallowing difficulties. Tax relief applies when treatment is provided by a practitioner registered with CORU (the Health and Social Care Professionals Council of Ireland). The therapy doesn't need to result in a specific diagnosis—the treatment itself qualifies if provided by a registered professional.
Qualifying Speech Therapy Treatments:
- Speech sound disorders – Articulation difficulties, phonological disorders, and unclear speech
- Language delays – Expressive language difficulties (difficulty forming sentences) and receptive language problems (difficulty understanding)
- Fluency disorders – Stuttering and stammering therapy for children and adults
- Voice disorders – Vocal cord dysfunction, hoarseness, and voice rehabilitation
- Autism spectrum support – Communication skills development, social communication, and alternative communication systems
- Stroke rehabilitation – Aphasia treatment, dysarthria therapy, and cognitive-communication rehabilitation
- Swallowing difficulties – Dysphagia assessment and treatment for children and adults
What Occupational Therapy Costs Qualify?
Occupational therapy helps people of all ages develop, recover, or maintain daily living and work skills. It's particularly common for children with developmental differences but is equally important for adults recovering from injury or illness. Qualifying treatments include:
Qualifying Occupational Therapy Treatments:
- Sensory processing therapy – For children and adults with sensory integration difficulties, including sensory seeking or avoidance behaviours
- Fine motor skills development – Handwriting support, coordination training, and dexterity exercises
- Activities of daily living – Self-care skills, feeding support, dressing skills, and independence training
- Autism interventions – Social skills development, behavioural support, and life skills training
- Post-injury rehabilitation – Recovery of function after accidents, strokes, or other medical events
- Cognitive rehabilitation – Memory training, attention improvement, and executive function support
- Environmental adaptations – Assessment and recommendations for home or school modifications
How Much Can You Claim Back?
Tax relief is calculated at 20% of your qualifying costs. Given the ongoing nature of many therapy programmes—where children often attend weekly sessions for months or years—families can accumulate substantial refunds over the four-year claim period.
💡 Example: Child Receiving Both Therapies
| Speech therapy assessment (€150) | €150 |
| Weekly speech sessions (may require additional processing time × €95) | €3,800 |
| Occupational therapy assessment (€180) | €180 |
| Fortnightly OT sessions (26 sessions × €100) | €2,600 |
| Total annual cost | €6,730 |
| Tax relief at 20% | €1,346 refund |
Over 4 years of therapy, this could mean over €5,000 in tax relief for the family.
Claiming for Children's Therapy
Parents can claim tax relief on therapy costs for their children, which is particularly valuable given the often lengthy waiting lists for HSE services that lead many families to seek private therapy. The rules for children's therapy claims are straightforward:
- No age limit – You can claim for children of any age, from infants to teenagers
- No diagnosis required – The therapy itself must be appropriate, but a formal diagnosis isn't needed for the tax claim
- Both parents can claim – If you share therapy costs from separate accounts, both parents can claim relief on their respective payments
- School-based therapy – Private therapy provided at school settings qualifies just like clinic-based treatment
Documentation Requirements
To claim tax relief on therapy costs, you'll need proof of payment and confirmation that the therapist is registered with CORU. Most therapy practices are familiar with these requirements and can easily provide the necessary documentation:
- Receipts – From your therapist showing dates of sessions, amounts paid, and services provided
- CORU registration – The therapist must be registered with CORU (usually shown on their receipts)
- Year-end summaries – Many therapists provide annual statements for tax purposes upon request
- Bank statements – Can support claims if receipts are missing or incomplete
Combining with Other Medical Expenses
Therapy costs should be claimed alongside all other family medical expenses to maximise your total refund. Don't think of it as separate claims—submit one comprehensive medical expense claim:
- GP consultations – Including referrals and developmental check-ups
- Physiotherapy – Often needed alongside occupational therapy
- Psychology services – Assessments and therapeutic support
- Medications – Related prescriptions for the whole family
- Consultant fees – Paediatricians and specialists
Claim Your Therapy Tax Relief Today
Our specialists will review your complete tax history and claim ALL medical expenses your family is entitled to.
Start Your Tax Review →Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a formal diagnosis for my child to claim?
No, you don't need a diagnosis to claim tax relief. If a registered therapist is providing treatment for a legitimate purpose, the costs qualify regardless of whether there's a formal diagnosis of autism, dyslexia, or any other condition.
Can I claim for therapy provided at my child's school?
Yes, if you're paying privately for a CORU-registered therapist to provide sessions at school, these costs qualify for tax relief just like clinic-based sessions. Many families arrange for therapists to visit the school during the day.
What about online therapy sessions?
Yes, teletherapy sessions with CORU-registered practitioners qualify for tax relief. Online therapy became more common during the pandemic and remains a valid option for many families, particularly for follow-up appointments.
Can I claim for adult speech or occupational therapy?
Absolutely. Adults receiving therapy for stroke recovery, neurological conditions, workplace injuries, mental health support, or any other reason can claim tax relief on their treatment costs just like children.
How far back can I claim for therapy costs?
You can claim for therapy received in the current year plus the previous 4 years. If you've been paying for private therapy for years without claiming, our team can review your entire eligible period and claim everything you're owed.
Why Choose MyTaxRebate.ie?
Families paying for therapy often have multiple claimable expenses they're not aware of. When you work with our specialists:
- We find ALL refunds – Medical expenses, rent relief, and every other relief you may qualify for
- We review 4 years – Ensuring you don't miss any backdated claims
- No paperwork stress – We handle the entire Revenue process
- No refund, no fee – You only pay if we find money owed to you
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