Live in Northern Ireland. Work in the Republic. Wondering about that UK tax return?

Short answer: yes, you almost certainly need to file one. The good news? It’s far less painful than you’d expect.

Send us your payslips. We prepare your UK tax return, claim Foreign Tax Credit Relief on your behalf, and deal with HMRC. From £250, sorted in days.

Do I actually need to file a UK tax return?

If you live in Northern Ireland, HMRC treats you as UK tax resident — even though every penny of your wages comes from an employer in Dundalk, Dublin or Donegal.

That means your Irish salary must be reported on a UK Self Assessment tax return. Every year.

Plenty of cross-border workers don’t know this. Some have gone years without filing. If that’s you, don’t panic — it’s fixable, and coming forward is always better than waiting for HMRC to come to you.

Will I be taxed twice?

No. This is the part that worries everyone.

The UK and Ireland have a double taxation agreement. We use your payslip data to prepare your UK tax return and claim Foreign Tax Credit Relief for the Irish tax you’ve already paid. For most cross-border workers, the result is little or nothing extra to pay.

You’re not paying tax twice. You’re demonstrating to HMRC that you’ve already paid it once.

How it works

1. You send us your payslips. Photos or PDFs covering 6th April to 5th April. That’s genuinely it — no forms, no spreadsheets, no office visit required.

2. We do the technical work. Our team prepares your UK tax return from your payslip data and claims Foreign Tax Credit Relief for the Irish tax already deducted.

3. You review and approve — then we file. We send you the completed return with a plain-English summary of the outcome. Once you’ve checked it and signed off digitally, we submit it to HMRC. Then it’s peace of mind until this time next year.

What it costs

From £250.

Straightforward cross-border employment — one job in the Republic, wages on payslips — is £250 flat. That covers most people.

Rental income, a second job, or a year that got complicated? We’ll quote any extra before we start, not after. No surprises on the invoice.

Deadlines worth knowing

Your 2025/26 return is due online by 31st January 2027. If you’ve never filed before, HMRC also expects new filers to register for Self Assessment by 5th October — worth getting the ball rolling sooner rather than later, as registration can take a few weeks to process.

Why us?

We’re Adrian Markey | Chartered Accountants, based in Warrenpoint — right on the border.

Cross-border tax is our specialism. Our team has decades of experience advising on the NI/ROI boundary: cross-border workers, businesses and landlords alike. We file 100+ of these cross-border worker tax returns every year.

The mortgage bonus

Here’s an upside most cross-border workers don’t see coming: a UK tax return can help when you’re applying for a UK mortgage.

Some lenders are wary of applicants who arrive with Irish payslips and euro income — and some turn them down flat. A filed UK tax return showing your income in sterling gives lenders something they recognise, which can open the door to more of them when you go house-hunting.

You’re filing because you have to. But it’s one of the few HMRC obligations that can actually work in your favour.

Common questions

Why do I have to file a UK tax return when all my income comes from the Republic?

There are two general rules in cross-border tax. One: you pay tax on your income where you earn it — that’s the Irish tax on your payslips. Two: you declare your worldwide income wherever you’re tax resident, and claim relief for tax already paid elsewhere.

If your only or main home is in Northern Ireland, you’re almost certainly UK tax resident. So your Irish income must be declared to HMRC — and that’s where Foreign Tax Credit Relief comes in, making sure the tax you’ve already paid in the Republic counts.

What if I have an outstanding student loan?

Good question, and one that catches people out. Foreign employment income counts towards UK student loan repayments — so even where there’s no tax to pay, repayments can still be due through your return. All the more reason to file and keep your loan on track, rather than have HMRC come looking for repayments covering several years at once.

I work a few days from home in NI. Does that change anything?

It can — home-working days have tax consequences on both sides of the border. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll assess your specific situation.

I’ve never filed and I’ve been doing this for years. Am I in trouble?

You’re not the first, and HMRC has established processes for coming forward voluntarily. The sooner it’s addressed, the cheaper and calmer it tends to be. Get in touch — no judgement, just a fix.

Do I need to do anything with Revenue in Ireland too?

Usually your Irish PAYE covers the ROI side. If your situation needs more than that, we’ll tell you — we work in both jurisdictions.

How long does it take?

Once we have a full set of payslips: days, not weeks.

Payslips in. Return out. Done for another year.

Fill in the form below or ring the office. Not sure whether any of this applies to you? Ask anyway — it’s a two-minute answer, and it’s free.