Notifying Banks, Utilities and Revenue After a Death in Ireland: The Full Checklist

There’s no gentle way to say it: after someone dies, a long list of Irish institutions need to be told. Banks need to freeze or close accounts. Utility companies need final meter readings. Revenue needs a final tax return. None of them talk to each other, so the job of telling them all falls to you.

This guide is that job, laid out in one place. For each provider, you’ll find exactly what to expect, what documents to have ready, and how to get in touch, so you’re not starting each call from scratch.

A few things before you start:

• You can hand this off. The Solace Aftercare can contact some of these providers for you, and tracks which accounts are closed, which are pending, and which still need a call. Look for the ✅ next to the ones we can handle.
• You don’t have to do this all at once. Essential accounts (banks, Revenue, insurers) matter more than optional ones (streaming, social media).
• One document folder covers most of this. A death certificate, your own photo ID, and the deceased’s PPS number will get you through the vast majority of these calls.

What you’ll need before you start

Order 5 to 10 certified copies of the death certificate before you start. Some organisations return originals, most don’t, and re-ordering mid-process is the single biggest cause of delay people report.

Banks and credit unions

Banks take the longest. Budget an hour, including hold time.

How do I close a Bank of Ireland account after a death?

Contact Bank of Ireland’s Bereavement Support Team by phone, in any branch, through their online Bereavement Notification Form, or by post, and ask them to freeze the account. Balances under €35,000 can usually be released with a Small Estate form; over €35,000, Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration is needed. BOI can pay the funeral director’s bill directly, and release up to €25,000 for other funeral costs such as flowers and memorial cards.

• Documents: Death certificate, your photo ID, proof of address if you’re not a Bank of Ireland customer, will if there is one, the deceased’s account number(s), funeral invoice if claiming funeral expenses, Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration if the total balance is over €35,000
• Contact: Phone 1800 800 656 (Mon to Fri, 9:30am to 4:30pm; +353 1 460 6333 from outside Ireland), the Bereavement Notification Form, in any branch, or by post to Bereavement Support Unit, Bank of Ireland, PO Box 365, Dublin 18. More on their bereavement page.
• Time: 1 to 2 hours, plus a day or more processing
• Correct as of 24 September 2026

How do I close an AIB account after a death?

The fastest route is AIB’s online Notification of Customer’s Death form; you can also email, phone, or visit a branch. AIB freezes sole accounts and tells you which form to complete next. Balances under €25,000 can be released with a Small Estate form; over €25,000, Grant of Probate is needed. AIB can pay the funeral director directly, and release up to €5,000 for other funeral costs such as flowers and catering.

• Documents: Death certificate, your photo ID, two proofs of address if you’re not an AIB customer, will if there is one, the deceased’s account number(s), funeral invoice if claiming funeral expenses, Grant of Probate if the balance is over €25,000
• Contact: The Notification of Customer’s Death form, email bereavement.support@aib.ie, phone +353 1 641 5182 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm), or in any branch
• Time: 1 to 2 hours, plus a day or more processing
• Correct as of 24 September 2026

How do I close a Permanent TSB account after a death?

Phone or email is usually fastest: send a scanned certified death certificate to PTSB’s Bereavement Services team. PTSB puts a hold on sole accounts, cancels Direct Debits and Standing Orders, and can pay the funeral director directly from the funds available. Balances across all PTSB accounts in the deceased’s sole name over €30,000 need Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. Most of the process can be done by email or post.

• Documents: Death certificate, your photo ID, proof of address (utility bill or bank statement), will if there is one, funeral invoice addressed to the deceased or the estate, a recent PTSB statement or account number(s), Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration if the balance is over €30,000
• Contact: Phone 01 212 4077 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm), email bereavementservices@ptsb.ie, the bereavement notification form, in any branch, or by post to Bereavement Services, 56/59 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
• Time: 1 to 2 hours, plus a day or more processing
• Correct as of 24 September 2026

How do I close a Revolut account after a death?

Revolut’s process is handled entirely by email. Send an email with the subject “Notification of Death - [name of the deceased]”. Revolut’s Bereavement Team replies with a case number; quote it in every follow-up. Once everything is received, Revolut freezes the account, stops all payments, and transfers the balance to the estate.

• Documents: Your photo ID, a certified death certificate, a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration (or an official document naming the heir), and Revolut’s signed indemnity form
• Contact: Email bereavement@revolut.com
• Time: 15 to 30 minutes to submit, plus a day or more processing
• ✅ Can be handled for you via The Solace Aftercare
• Correct as of 24 September 2026

How do I close an account with an Irish Credit Union after a death?

Each credit union is its own organisation, so contact the deceased’s local branch by phone or in person to tell them of the death. Closure itself must be done in person, as credit unions don’t take closure instructions by phone or email. Ask whether the deceased made a nomination: a valid nomination lets up to €27,000 pass directly to the named person without Grant of Probate. Also ask about Death Benefit Plus: if the member had it, it pays between €3,000 and €15,000 towards funeral costs.

• Documents: Death certificate, your photo ID, your proof of address, will if there is one, a solicitor’s letter if a solicitor is acting for the estate, Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration for amounts over €27,000 or where there is no valid nomination
• Contact: In person at the local branch (find it with the credit union locator). For Death Benefit Plus claims, ECCU on 0818 29 39 49 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 4:45pm) or dbplus@eccu.ie.
• Time: 30 to 60 minutes, plus a day or more processing
• Correct as of 24 September 2026

How do I close an An Post Money account after a death?

Call An Post Money Customer Services to log the death, then complete their Notification of Death form in block capitals and send it by email or post with the supporting documents. There is no online closure process. The Bereavement Team then follows up with you directly and confirms whether anything further is needed, such as Grant of Probate for higher balances.

• Documents: The Notification of Death form, the original death certificate or a copy certified by a Post Office official, Garda or solicitor, the account IBAN, and the will if there is one
• Contact: Phone 01 705 8000, email customerservices@anpostmoney.com, or post to An Post Money, BillPost, Enterprise House, Cappa Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare, V15 VX23. The form is on their Forms and Downloads page.
• Time: 30 to 60 minutes, plus a day or more processing
• Correct as of 24 September 2026

Utilities

The quickest calls on this list. Most take 15 minutes once you have the account number and a meter reading.

How do I close an Electric Ireland account after a death?

The next of kin or executor should contact Electric Ireland to either close the account, if the property is empty, or transfer it into the name of the person now responsible for the property. Have a live meter reading ready. A final bill is then issued.

• Documents: Account number, MPRN (the 11-digit Meter Point Reference Number), a current meter reading
• Contact: Phone 1800 372 372, email service@electricireland.ie, or see their bereavement page
• Time: 15 to 30 minutes
• Correct as of 24 September 2026

How do I close an SSE Airtricity account after a death?

SSE Airtricity has bereavement specialists who will either close the account and send a final bill to the estate, if the property is empty, or transfer it to the surviving occupier or executor.

• Documents: Account number or MPRN/GPRN, a final meter reading, a copy of the death certificate if requested
• Contact: Phone 0818 81 25 80 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5:30pm) or email IrelandCarelineTeam@sse.com
• Time: 15 to 30 minutes
• Correct as of 24 September 2026

How do I close a Bord Gáis Energy account after a death?

Bord Gáis has a dedicated bereavement line you can call directly to close the account or transfer it into another name.

• Documents: Account number, meter reading, MPRN/GPRN number, forwarding address
• Contact: Phone 01 611 01 46 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm), email info@bordgais.ie, or see their bereavement support page
• Time: 15 to 30 minutes
• Correct as of 24 September 2026

How do I close a PrepayPower account after a death?

One of the fastest closures on this list. PrepayPower removes the deceased’s details and moves the meter into occupier status while probate is under way.

• Documents: Account number, meter reading, death certificate if requested
• Contact: Phone 1800 911 977 or email hypercare@prepaypower.ie
• Time: 5 to 15 minutes
• ✅ Can be handled for you via The Solace Aftercare
• Correct as of 24 September 2026

How do I close an Energia account after a death?

Call or email Energia to close the account, transfer it into another name, or give a closing meter reading.

• Documents: Account number
• Contact: Phone 0818 405 405 or email homeenquiries@energia.ie
• Time: 15 to 30 minutes
• Correct as of 24 September 2026

Do I need to close my Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) account after a death?

Households aren’t charged for water, so there’s no bill to close. If the deceased was the registered customer, you can ask Uisce Éireann to update the name on 1800 278 278.

How do I close a bin collection account after a death?

Greyhound and Panda Recycling both let you cancel the service and arrange bin collection, or transfer the service into a new name.

• Documents: Greyhound: account details and death certificate. Panda: the deceased’s name, the account holder’s address and death certificate.
• Contact: Greyhound: phone 01 457 7777 (Mon to Fri, 8am to 6pm) or email info@greyhound.ie. Panda: phone 01 829 8992 (Mon to Fri, 8:30am to 5:30pm) or email customercare@panda.ie.
• Time: 5 to 15 minutes, plus a day or more processing
• ✅ Both can be handled for you via The Solace Aftercare
• Correct as of 24 September 2026

Revenue and government bodies

These carry the most paperwork of the three categories, and getting them right matters most for the estate.

How do I notify Revenue of a death in Ireland?

Notify Revenue by phone or through MyEnquiries on ROS or myAccount. The personal representative then registers the estate as a separate tax entity (online via ROS or on paper Form TR4) and files a final income tax return covering 1 January to the date of death: Form 12 for PAYE employees, Form 11 for the self-employed. Form 12 can’t be filed online after a death. Send it through MyEnquiries or by post. Form SA.2 (Statement of Affairs) is filed online through Revenue myAccount or ROS, by the personal representative or their solicitor. Once all tax is paid, request clearance through MyEnquiries. If you’ve sent Revenue a full and accurate clearance request and they haven’t come back within 35 working days, you can distribute the estate. Don’t distribute before clearance, as you can be personally liable for any tax outstanding.

• Documents: Death certificate, the deceased’s PPS number, Form SA.2, the final tax return (Form 12 or Form 11), will and Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
• Contact: Phone 01 738 3636, or MyEnquiries through myAccount or ROS
• Time: 1 to 2 hours, plus around 35 working days for clearance
• Correct as of 24 September 2026

How do I notify the Department of Social Protection of a death?

Call, email or visit an Intreo Centre to stop any payments. You don’t need the death certificate to stop payments. The deceased’s name, PPS number and payment type are enough to start. Don’t cash any payments issued after the date of death; return them to the Department’s Central Overpayments Section. A surviving spouse, partner or carer may keep receiving the payment for 6 weeks (12 weeks for Carer’s Allowance). They may also qualify for bereavement supports such as the Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension, which now also covers cohabiting partners.

• Documents: Death certificate (often not needed just to stop a payment, but include one, or a newspaper death notice, when applying for a bereavement payment)
• Contact: Phone (01) 704 3000, email info@welfare.ie, or visit any Intreo Centre
• Time: 30 to 60 minutes, plus around 6 weeks processing
• Correct as of 24 September 2026

What happens to Local Property Tax after a death?

Local Property Tax is handled by Revenue. If the deceased was the sole owner of the home, the personal representative can defer the tax during probate. Make sure all past returns are filed, then notify Revenue through MyEnquiries with the death certificate and upload Form LPT2. Deferral lasts up to 3 years from the date of death. The deferred tax and 3% annual interest are due when the property is sold or transferred, or at the 3-year point, whichever comes first.

• Documents: Death certificate, the Property ID and the deceased’s PPS number, proof of your relationship, Form LPT2
• Contact: Phone 01 738 3626, the LPT portal, or by post to FREEPOST Local Property Tax and VHT Branch, PO Box 1, Limerick
• Time: 15 to 30 minutes
• Correct as of 24 September 2026

How do I cancel a passport after a death?

Cancelling the passport protects against identity theft. Post it to the Passport Office with a copy of the death certificate and a short cover letter with your contact details. If you’d like it back as a keepsake, say so in the letter: “Please return the cancelled passport to me at the address below to keep as a family memento.” It’s cancelled within a few weeks and posted back to you. If you can’t find the passport, there’s no need to report it unless you think it was stolen.

• Documents: The passport, a copy of the death certificate, a cover letter
• Contact: Post (no stamp needed) to Customer Care, Passport Office, Freepost PO Box 9718, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. Phone +353 1 671 1633 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 4:30pm).
• Time: 5 to 15 minutes
• Correct as of 24 September 2026

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Grant of Probate to close a bank account in Ireland?

Not always. Most Irish banks will release smaller balances with a Small Estate form instead of full probate. The threshold varies: €35,000 at Bank of Ireland, €30,000 at Permanent TSB, €25,000 at AIB, and €27,000 for a credit union account with a valid nomination. You’ll need a grant for larger balances, for any property or land in the deceased’s sole name, or where a will is disputed.

What’s the very first thing I should do after a death in Ireland?

Order several certified copies of the death certificate. Nearly every step, from banks to Revenue to utilities, needs one, and running out partway through is the biggest single cause of delay.

Do I have to close utility accounts immediately after a death?

No. Utilities keep running the property regardless, so there’s no urgency. Many people wait until probate is further along before transferring or closing these accounts.

Can someone else notify banks and utilities of a death on my behalf?

Yes. An executor, a solicitor, or a service like The Solace Aftercare can make these calls on your behalf for accounts that can be automated, and can track progress across everything else.

How long does it take to notify all banks, utilities and Revenue after a death in Ireland?

For a typical person with a full set of essential accounts, plan for roughly 8 to 15 hours of hands-on time, spread across 1 to 2 weeks. Most of that is waiting on processing rather than active work.

If keeping track of all of this feels like a second job on top of everything else, that’s exactly what The Solace Aftercare is built for. It gives you one place to see what’s closed, what’s pending, and what still needs a call, and it can handle the accounts marked above automatically.