Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI)

The following is provided for information purposes only on Pay Related Social Insurance in Ireland. All further queries regarding this information should be directed to the competent authority listed below.

Pay related social insurance (PRSI) contributions go to the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) which is then used to fund social insurance payments, such as social welfare payments.

Competent Authority

The competent authority for Pay Related Social Insurance in Ireland is the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

PRSI for employers and self-employed individuals.

If you are an employer, you pay Pay-Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions for all employees aged over 16 and under 66.
PRSI contributions are also paid by self-employed people and by certain other categories of people who are not engaged in insurable employment, for example people getting occupational pensions.

Revenue collects PRSI contributions on behalf of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. In most cases this is done through the PAYE income tax system and the self-assessment system for the self-employed.

PRSI contributions may also be deducted by you, for employees who do not pay income tax under the PAYE system. The PRSI is collected (also on a pay related basis) and paid directly to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection under a collection system.

Details on registering for both PAYE and Self Assessment can be found on the Tax page.

Relevant Links

Details on how PRSI contributions are calculated, can be found on the Department of Social Welfare website:
http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/PRSI---Pay-Related-Social-Insurance---Contributions-and-Clas.aspx

Online services are available regarding PAYE and PRSI from Revenue.ie.