I want to import a new Transit Custom...

Hi,

I am looking to purchase a brand new Ford Transit Custom MS-RT from the UK, which cannot be got in the Republic of Ireland. My question is , as I am VAT-registered, do I have to now pay VAT in the UK or give the dealer my Irish VAT number? Do I also have to pay import duty? Is there any other hidden cost?

Thanks

Alan

Alan O Riordan (Cork )

Jan 2021 Filed under: importing

---

Expert answer

Hi Alan,

Yes, you’ll have to pay import duty, which will be ten per cent of the price of the car, plus transportation costs. You’ll also have to pay VAT twice — once to the UK authorities and again when you complete the import process here. If you’re VAT-registered you should be able to claim back the VAT at this end, but claiming it back  from the UK will be much trickier.

In theory, the Brexit trade agreement allows for such things, but the paperwork’s a mess at the moment, and no-one really seems to know what’s going on. You could make things a little easier for yourself by buying from a dealer in Northern Ireland — you’ll not have to pay the ten per cent import duty and, although you’ll be stung for the VAT, the NI authorities are a little more switched on as there are reciprocal cross-border tax arrangements. 

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Advisor
@neilmbriscoe