Border People provides case studies and frequently asked questions (FAQs) illustrating the dilemmas facing people who cross the border and suggest ways to resolve these.
These are real genuine problems identified by users of the website coupled with advice from staff of the Borderwise project, a cross-border initiative developed in partnership between Citizens Advice (Northern Ireland) and Citizens Information Board (Ireland).
Q: I work in NI and my wife does some occasional work also in NI, we have a euro mortgage. Are we entitled to claim mortgage interest relief?
A: I presume you mean mortgage interest relief at source from Revenue in the Republic of Ireland as the equivalent relief in N. Ireland/UK no longer exists. You are entitled to this relief on the basis of your residence in the Republic regardless of the fact that you are employed in N. Ireland. You can claim on form TRS1 which can be downloaded from the Irish Revenue website www.revenue.ie. They will consider a backdated claim for up to 4 years (i.e. back to 2004) provided you had eligible interest charges back to that time. [July 2008]
Q: I live in County Donegal. I have a sterling mortgage. Am I entitled to Mortgage Interest Relief in Ireland? I have lived here since 2001, can it be back dated?
A: You should be entitled to Mortgage Interest Relief at source from Irish Revenue, for how to claim see www.revenue.ie . You can backdate a claim for 4 years so you can also claim for 2004 to 2007.[June 2008]
© Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (NIACAB) 2008
