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Hi Pete,

Yup, if it’s been registered as a commercial vehicle in the first place, and you’re using it only for work purposes, then you’re entitled to continue to tax it as a commercial. 

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Hi Martin,

If the car is registered as a commercial vehicle, and that’s how you’re using it (strictly no social, domestic, nor pleasure motoring) then yes, absolutely, you can tax it as a commercial.

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Hi John,

It goes back on to the old by-engine-capacity tax system, if you’re taxing a van as a private car, so if it has a 2.0 engine then you’re looking at €710 a year. 

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Hi Deirdre,

Not any more, I’m afraid. The government closed off the loophole in the tax system that allowed five-seat SUVs with big boots to be classed as vans for tax purposes. That was all shut down in July 2018. Now, it’s always worth checking with your accountant, and you can claim back VAT against five-seat crew-cab pickups and vans, but in general the claiming back on SUVs has gone, now. 

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Hi Phil,

It depends on the specific vehicle. Some vans retain their N1 classification if converted to a crew-cab, so your best bet is to contact your local tax office to get the specific details for your van.

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Hi Trevor,

We’re not sure about the five per cent VRT BIK rate, as that will depend on your personal circumstances and how the vehicle is paid for and registered. Better to ask your company accountant that one. As for being OK to carry passengers for personal use, yes you can, but you’ll have to register it as a private car and tax it as such (which could be tricky if you’re trying to get the van rate BIK) and you’ll have to make sure that your insurance covers it for social/domestic/pleasure use as well as work.

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Hi Michael,

Yes, it will. Revenue has confirmed to us that, for any car imported or purchased after the 1st of Jan 2020, the NOx charge will be included in any VRT refund when and if the car is re-exported.

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Hi Gareth,

It won’t make a huge difference to be honest. Because Revenue take note of the month of registration as well as the year, the extra few weeks won’t really affect the VRT charge very much. And if it’s an older diesel, definitely get the VRT done before January as on the 1st, the new NOx tax comes in and that could add a significant amount extra to your bill.

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Hi Brian,

It’s pretty simple to tax a commercial vehicle as a private car, but it does mean reverting to the old by-engine-capacity tax system, so beware of going over 2.0 litres in engine capacity as the tax cost starts to become prohibitive after that point. 

Read our Buying a commercial vehicle for private use feature on the subject for more.

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Hi Martin,

It depends on the age of the X5 as to whether this works. As long as it was registered pre-July 2018, then yeah — it’s fine and legal, although rather more in the letter of the law than the spirit. As for a new Range Rover Sport, the answer is no — that tax loophole was a closed off last year, so no-go I’m afraid.