Introduction
With the relaxation of Covid restrictions many employees are returning to the office. There is good news from the Government which has cut fares for public operators by on average 20%: https://www.travelhub.ie/blog/latest/government-cuts-annual-and-monthly-public-transport-fares. Given flexible working arrangements, employees might be wondering at what point is it worth buying an annual taxsaver ticket. For most employees if they make 1 to 4 return trips a week they'll save with an annual ticket. This includes social and leisure trips as well as work trips.
How to use this guide
1) How many trips a week do you make?
Consider leisure trips as well as work trips when working out how many return trips a week you make.
- Work
- Sport
- Family
- Shopping
- Evenings and weekends
2) What tax rate do you pay at?
The savings you make depend on the marginal rates you pay PAYE, PRSI and USC at. Typically, Higher Rate taxpayers earning over €70k save 52.1%, with typical savings of 47.1% for Higher Rate taxpayers earning less than €70k. Typically, Standard Rate Taxpayers save 27.1 %. However, the rates may change depending on income levels, tax credits, reliefs and exemptions. This means that your savings might be different to the ones below. Employees should check their payslips to confirm the rates of tax they are paying to confirm the savings for their situation.
3) See how many return trips you need to make before you save
See the tables below:
- Savings for Higher Rate taxpayers paying at 52.1%
- Savings for Standard Rate taxpayers paying at 27.1%
They explain how many return trips per week an employee needs to make before they save. The calculations on the right compare the nett cost of an annual taxsaver ticket after estimated tax savings, with the cheapest pay-as-you-go alternative.
Remember that once you have the taxsaver annual ticket you have unlimited trips for the year!
4) Get your ticket
If you've got a ticket before login to www.travelhub.ie (Or via Single Sign On from your benefits site for some companies) and click new order. If you're not sure how to login or register check your company benefits information, or ask your HR contact for the link for your company.
Savings for Higher Rate payers paying 52.1%.
Higher rate taxpayers earning over €70k typically pay 52.1% on marginal income, while higher rate taxpayers earning under €70k typically pay 47.1% on marginal income. The examples below are based on the higher 52.1% saving.
Summary for Higher rate taxpayers paying at 52.1%
- Dublin Zone 1 multimodal tickets cost only €8.84 per week after tax savings for unlimited travel.
- Cork Red Zone bus costs €6.45 per week after tax savings for unlimited travel.
- For most tickets outside of these two zones the annual ticket is cheaper after tax savings if you make 2 or more return trips per week
Annual Product | Nett weekly cost of annual ticket if paying 52.1% tax | Pay-As-You-Go Product | Pay-As-You-Go Cost | Annual cheaper after |
Swords Express: Annual €1495 | €13.77 per week for unlimited travel. | Trips from 10 journey Leap ticket. Checked Feb 2025 |
€16 for 4 trips |
2 return trips per week |
Collins Coaches: Collon/Slane to Dublin - Annual €2450 | €22.57 per week for unlimited travel. | Trips from a 10 journey ticket. Checked Feb 2025 | €28 for 4 trips | 2 return trips per week |
Wexford Bus: Wexford - Dublin - Annual €3300 |
€30.67 per week for unlimited travel. | Trips from a 10 journey flexi ticket. Checked Feb 2025 | €38 for 4 trips | 2 return trips per week |
Dublin Multimodal Zone 1 €960 Train + Luas + Bus in Zone 1 |
€8.84 per week for unlimited travel. | 90 minute fares. 2025 prices. | €12 for 6 trips | 3 return trips per week |
Dublin Multimodal Zone 1 €960 Train + Luas + Bus in Zone 1
|
€8.84 per week for unlimited travel. | Xpresso 90 minute fares including faster Dublin City Bus Xpresso services. 2025 prices. | €9.60 for 4 trips | 2 return trips per week |
Dublin Multimodal Zone 2 €1400 Train + Luas + Bus in Zones 1-2
|
€12.90 per week for unlimited travel. | Bus Eireann Gormanstown to Dublin Leap Fare. 2025 prices (page 26). | €16.60 for 4 trips | 2 return trips per week |
Dublin Multimodal Zone 2 €1400 Train + Luas + Bus in Zones 1-2
|
€12.90 per week for unlimited travel. | Irish Rail to Dublin Leap Fare from Gormanstown, Balbriggan, Skerries, Kilcock, Sallins & Naas, Greystones, Kilcoole. 2025 prices (page 47). | €15.60 for 4 trips | 2 return trips per week |
Dublin Multimodal Zone 3 €1960 Train + Luas + Bus in Zones 1-3
|
€18.05 per week for unlimited travel. | Bus Eireann Trim to Dublin Leap Fare. 2025 prices (page 36). | €21.20 for 4 trips | 2 return trips per week |
Dublin Multimodal Zone 3 €1960 Train + Luas + Bus in Zones 1-3
|
€18.05 per week for unlimited travel. | Irish Rail to Dublin Leap Fare from Drogheda, Laytown, Enfield, Newbridge, Wicklow. 2025 prices (page 36). | €24 for 4 trips | 2 return trips per week |
Dublin Multimodal Zone 4 €2352 Train + Luas + Bus in Zones 1-4
|
€21.67 per week for unlimited travel. | Irish Rail to Dublin Leap Fare from Rathdrum or Kildare. 2025 prices (page 36). | €30 for 4 trips | 2 return trips per week |
Irish Rail Cork to Littleisland or Glounthaune €710 |
€6.54 per week for unlimited travel. | Irish Rail Cork Zone B Leap fare. 2025 prices. | €7.80 for 4 trips | 2 return trips per week |
Irish Rail Cork to Midleton or Cobh or Carrigtwohill €1050 |
€9.67 per week for unlimited travel. | Irish Rail Cork Zone C Leap fare. 2025 prices. | €12 for 4 trips | 2 return trips per week |
Irish Rail Cork to Mallow €1300 |
€11.98 per week for unlimited travel. | Irish Rail Cork Zone D Leap fare. 2025 prices. | €15.60 for 4 trips | 2 return trips per week |
Waterford Bus Eireann €560 |
€5.16 per week for unlimited travel. | Regional City Standard Zone €1.50 fare. 2025 prices page 38. | €6 for 4 trips | 2 return trips per week |
Galway or Limerick Bus Eireann €616 |
€5.67 per week for unlimited travel. | Regional City Standard Zone €1.50 fare. 2025 prices page 38. | €6 for 4 trips | 2 return trips per week |
Cork Red Zone Bus €700 |
€6.45 per week for unlimited travel. | Regional City Standard Zone €1.50 fare. 2025 prices page 38. | €9 for 6 trips | 3 return trips per week |
Irish Rail Point-to-Point €2630
|
€24.23 per week for unlimited travel. |
Irish Rail Economy Day Return 2025 prices page 56.
|
€31.80 for 2 return trips | 2 return trips per week |
Irish Rail Point-to-Point €2900
|
€26.71 per week for unlimited travel. |
Irish Rail Economy Day Return 2025 prices page 56.
|
€35.50 for 2 return trips | 2 return trips per week |
Irish Rail Point-to-Point €3140
|
€28.92 per week for unlimited travel. |
Irish Rail Economy Day Return. 2025 prices page 56.
|
€39.00 for 2 return trips | 2 return trips per week |
Irish Rail Point-to-Point €3500
|
€32.24 per week for unlimited travel. |
Irish Rail Economy Day Return. 2025 prices page 56.
|
€41.60 for 2 return trips | 2 return trips per week |
Irish Rail Point-to-Point €3970
|
€36.57 per week for unlimited travel. | Irish Rail Economy Day Return. 2025 prices page 56. | €48.30 for 2 return trips | 2 return trips per week |
National All Services - Rail + Luas + Public Bus €4040
|
€37.21 per week for unlimited travel. | Irish Rail Economy Day Return e.g. to Dublin from Roscommon, Waterford, Carrick-on-Shannon, Thurles, Cork, Ballinasloe. 2025 prices page 56. | €54 for 2 return trips | 2 return trips per week |
Savings for Standard Rate payers paying 27.1%
The calculations below are for standard rate taxpayers with a marginal tax rate of 27.1 %. Taxpayers with lower salaries or with additional tax credits may have lower marginal tax rates.
Summary for Standard rate taxpayers paying at 27.1%
- Dublin Zone 1 multimodal tickets cost only €13.46 per week after tax savings for unlimited travel.
- Cork Red Zone bus costs €9.81 per week after tax savings for unlimited travel.
- For most tickets outside of these two zones the annual ticket is cheaper after tax savings if you make 3 or more return trips per week
Annual Product | Nett weekly cost of annual ticket if paying 28.1% tax | Pay-As-You-Go Product | Pay-As-You-Go Cost | Annual cheaper after |
Swords Express: Annual €1495 | €20.96 per week for unlimited travel. | Trips from 10 journey Leap ticket. Checked Feb 2025 |
€24 for 6 trips |
3 return trips per week |
Collins Coaches: Collon/Slane to Dublin - Annual €2450 |
€34.35 per week for unlimited travel. |
Trips from a 10 journey ticket. Checked Feb 2025 | €42 for 6 trips | 3 return trips per week |
Wexford Bus: Wexford - Dublin - Annual €3300 |
€46.68 per week for unlimited travel. | Trips from a 10 journey flexi ticket. Checked Feb 2025 | €57 for 6 trips | 3 return trips per week |
Dublin Multimodal Zone 1 €960 Train + Luas + Bus in Zone 1 |
€13.46 per week for for unlimited travel. | 90 minute fares. 2025 prices. | €16 for 8 trips | 4 return trips per week |
Dublin Multimodal Zone 1 €960 Train + Luas + Bus in Zone 1
|
€13.46 per week for a €960 per annum Taxsaver ticket for unlimited travel. | Xpresso 90 minute fares including faster Dublin City Bus Xpresso services. 2025 prices. | €14.40 for 6 trips | 3 return trips per week |
Dublin Multimodal Zone 2 €1400 Train + Luas + Bus in Zones 1-2
|
€19.63 per week for unlimited travel. | Bus Eireann Gormanstown to Dublin Leap Fare. 2025 prices (page 26). | €23.40 for 6 trips | 3 return trips per week |
Dublin Multimodal Zone 2 €1400 Train + Luas + Bus in Zones 1-2
|
€19.63 per week for unlimited travel. | Irish Rail to Dublin Leap Fare from Gormanstown, Balbriggan, Skerries, Kilcock, Sallins & Naas, Greystones, Kilcoole. 2025 prices (page 47). | €23.40 for 6 trips | 3 return trips per week |
Dublin Multimodal Zone 3 €1960 Train + Luas + Bus in Zones 1-3
|
€27.48 per week for unlimited travel. | Bus Eireann Trim to Dublin Leap Fare. 2025 prices (page 36). | €31.80 for 6 trips | 3 return trips per week |
Dublin Multimodal Zone 3 €1960 Train + Luas + Bus in Zones 1-3
|
€27.48 per week for unlimited travel. | Irish Rail to Dublin Leap Fare from Drogheda, Laytown, Enfield, Newbridge, Wicklow. 2025 prices (page 36). | €36 for 3 trips | 3 return trips per week |
Dublin Multimodal Zone 4 €2352 Train + Luas + Bus in Zones 1-4
|
€32.97 per week for unlimited travel. | Irish Rail to Dublin Leap Fare from Rathdrum or Kildare. 2025 prices (page 36). | €45 for 6 trips | 3 return trips per week |
Irish Rail Cork to Littleisland or Glounthaune €710 |
€9.95 per week for unlimited travel. | Irish Rail Cork Zone B Leap fare. 2025 prices. | €11.60 for 6 trips | 3 return trips per week |
Irish Rail Cork to Midleton or Cobh or Carrigtwohill €1050 |
€14.72 per week for unlimited travel. | Irish Rail Cork Zone C Leap fare. 2025 prices. | €18 for 6 trips | 3 return trips per week |
Irish Rail Cork to Mallow €1300 |
€18.23 per week for unlimited travel. | Irish Rail Cork Zone D Leap fare. 2025 prices. | €23.40 for 6 trips | 3 return trips per week |
Waterford Bus Eireann €560 |
€7.85 per week for unlimited travel. | Regional City Standard Zone €1.50 fare. 2025 prices page 38. | €9 for 6 trips | 3 return trips per week |
Galway or Limerick Bus Eireann €616 |
€8.64 per week for unlimited travel. | Regional City Standard Zone €1.50 fare. 2025 prices page 38. | €9 for 6 trips | 3 return trips per week |
Cork Red Zone Bus €700 |
€9.81 per week for unlimited travel. | Regional City Standard Zone €1.50 fare. 2025 prices page 38. | €12 for 8 trips | 4 return trips per week |
Irish Rail Point-to-Point €2630
|
€36.87 per week for unlimited travel. |
Irish Rail Economy Day Return 2025 prices page 56.
|
€47.40 for 3 return trips | 3 return trips per week |
Irish Rail Point-to-Point €2900
|
€40.66 per week for unlimited travel. |
Irish Rail Economy Day Return 2025 prices page 56.
|
€53.25 for 3 return trips | 3 return trips per week |
Irish Rail Point-to-Point €3140
|
€44.02 per week for unlimited travel. |
Irish Rail Economy Day Return. 2025 prices page 56.
|
€58.50 for 3 return trips | 3 return trips per week |
Irish Rail Point-to-Point €3500
|
€49.07 per week for unlimited travel. |
Irish Rail Economy Day Return. 2025 prices page 56.
|
€62.40 for 3 return trips | 3 return trips per week |
Irish Rail Point-to-Point €3970
|
€55.66 per week for unlimited travel. |
Irish Rail Economy Day Return. 2025 prices page 56.
|
€72.45 for 3 return trips | 3 return trips per week |
National All Services - Rail + Luas + Public Bus €4040
|
€56.64 per week for unlimited travel. |
Irish Rail Economy Day Return 2025 prices page 56.
|
€81 for 3 return trips | 3 return trips per week |
Notes, Disclaimer and References
Tax rates are valid as of February 2025
Ticket prices are valid from February 2025 or as noted in the table where referenced.