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The Widowed Parent Tax Credit: €13,500 over five years, if you ask for it

Tax · Ireland•📖 4 min read•Updated 30 September 2026

The short answerIf your spouse or civil partner has died and you have dependent children, the Widowed Parent Tax Credit gives you €3,600 in the first year after the death, then €3,150, €2,700, €2,250 and €1,800. That's €13,500 over five years (our sum), on top of the Single Person Child Carer Credit.

PZak Carolan · The People's PocketChecked against Revenue: Widowed Parent Tax Credit, 30 September 2026

It isn't given automatically: you ask Revenue for it through MyEnquiries. It starts the year after the death, and you can backdate missed years for up to 4 years.

Quick facts

Year 1 after death: €3,600
Year 5: €1,800
Total: €13,500 over five years
Children: One credit, however many
Remarried or cohabiting: Not eligible
How: Ask Revenue via MyEnquiries

What it's worth

"You can claim this credit for five years after the year of death of your spouse or civil partner." The amounts: "€3,600 in the first year €3,150 in the second year €2,700 in the third year €2,250 in the fourth year and €1,800 in the fifth year."

"You can only receive one tax credit, regardless of how many children you may have." "You may also qualify for the Single Person Child Carer Credit (SPCCC) ."

Who qualifies

"You must have dependent children in order to qualify." Each year you must "not have remarried by the start of the tax year not be cohabiting and have a qualifying child living with you for all or part of the year."

A qualifying child is born that year, under 18 at the start of it, or over 18 and in full-time education or incapacitated.

How to claim

Send a request "through MyEnquiries in myAccount or in writing to your Revenue office ." The year of the death itself is taxed differently: Revenue's bereavement pages explain how.

Common questions

How much is the Widowed Parent Tax Credit?

€3,600 in the first year after the death, then €3,150, €2,700, €2,250 and €1,800 in the fifth year.

How long can I get the Widowed Parent Tax Credit?

For five years after the year your spouse or civil partner died.

Is the Widowed Parent Tax Credit automatic?

No. You request it through MyEnquiries in myAccount or in writing to your Revenue office.

Can I get the Widowed Parent Tax Credit and the Single Person Child Carer Credit?

Yes. You may qualify for both.

Do I lose the Widowed Parent Tax Credit if I cohabit?

Yes. You must not be cohabiting, or have remarried by the start of the tax year.

Our arithmetic, not theirs:

€13,500 — €3,600 + €3,150 + €2,700 + €2,250 + €1,800 = €13,500 over five years

Source: Revenue: Widowed Parent Tax Credit, read 30 September 2026. Every figure on this page is quoted from there. If it changes, this page is wrong until we fix it — tell us and we will.

Keep going

Bereaved Partner's Pension Single Person Child Carer Credit Bereaved Parent Grant Guardian's Payment