Importing a Car to Ireland - VRT, Transfer of Residency and Tax Exemptions with Bryan Wickham

Taxbytes for Expats

Thinking of bringing your car back to Ireland when you move? There’s quite a few things you need to know before you start planning!

In this episode, I’m joined by someone who knows the process inside-out: my husband, Bryan Wickham. As well as being a chartered accountant, Bryan’s a long-time car enthusiast who’s imported vehicles from overseas and handled all the twists and turns of VRT, customs, and navigating Revenue.

We talk through the key tax and practical considerations for expats moving cars into Ireland. When exemptions apply, what paperwork is needed, the potential issues to watch out for, and the hidden costs people often miss.

Planning to move a car from across the world can be a guessing game: securing insurance before registration, understanding CO2 bands for motor tax, the 12-month rule that could trigger a clawback… Bryan shares his experiences so you can better prepare to bring your car to Ireland.

You should note that this isn’t a service we offer at Expat Taxes, but it’s a topic that comes up all the time with clients so we wanted to share what we’ve learned from making the move ourselves!

Main Topics discussed in this Episode:

1. Transfer of Residency Relief for Vehicles: Expats returning to Ireland may be eligible to import their personal vehicle tax-free under the Transfer of Residency relief.
2. The VRT, VAT & Customs Cost Trap: Without relief, importing a car can trigger a hefty tax bill with customs duties, VAT, and Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT).
3. Documentation, Agents & Practical Logistics: Using a customs agent can significantly ease the paperwork burden.
4. Road Tax, Insurance & NCT Challenges: Finding the right insurer willing to cover an unregistered or left-hand drive car, ensuring NCT compliance & Ireland’s CO2 Road Tax bands.
5. Risks, Grey Areas & When Things Go Wrong: If you fall short of the qualifying criteria or Revenue disagrees with your valuation, you could face costly appeals or clawbacks.

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If you loved this episode or have a similar story, we'd love to hear from you! You can get in touch with us directly at [email protected] or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Taxbytes for Expats is brought to you by ExpatTaxes.ie. If you're considering moving to or from Ireland and would like support with your taxes, book a consultation today: https://expattaxes.ie/services-and-pricing/.

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