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On January 1st 2021 the UK left the EU. This resulted in changes to the process of importing goods from the UK to Ireland whereby goods imported from the UK to Ireland now require a customs declaration. This has also resulted in changes to the costs of importing goods from the UK to Ireland whereby goods may be subject to customs duty and VAT.
The importation of a vehicle from Japan is treated as an import from a non-European Union (EU) country. Most vehicles from Japan travel on RORO (Roll On Roll Off) ferries. When your Japanese import arrives at the port, you are required to complete a customs declaration and clear customs before you can collect it. CustomsDeclaration.ie can complete the entire customs declaration process for you.
For vehicles imported from the EU you are not required to complete a customs declaration. Customs declarations only apply to vehicles from outside the EU.
The importation of a vehicle from the UK is now treated as an import from a non-European Union (EU) country. When importing a vehicle you will now be required to (i) Complete a customs declaration, (ii)Pay or account for customs duty, if applicable, (iii)Pay VAT at 23%, (iV)Pay VRT.
You are required to complete a customs declaration and clear customs when your vehicle enters the state from outside the EU. If you do not have a customs declaration and are stopped by customs at the port when you arrive in Ireland, customs may prevent the vehicle from leaving the port until a customs declaration is completed and the vehicle has cleared customs.
All vehicles imported from outside the EU require a customs declaration. At customsdeclaration.ie we have completed customs declarations for cars, vans, trucks, HGVs, tractors, motorcycles, caravans, camper vans, classic vehicles, boats and other goods. Contact us today if you need our assistance clearing customs.
As part of the customs declaration process you may be required to pay customs duty. This is generally determined based on the country of origin of the vehicle and the type of vehicle. Vehicle origin typically means where the vehicle was manufactured not where you are importing the vehicle from.
UK origin cars imported from the UK are subject to 0% customs duty. EU (e.g. german manufactured vehicles) origin cars imported from the UK are subject to 10% customs duty.
As part of the customs declaration process you are required to pay VAT, currently 23%. If you are VAT registered you can choose to postpone VAT and include the VAT in your VAT return.
You need to have completed a customs declaration and cleared customs before you can VRT your vehicle.
You are required to make a VRT appointment within 7 days of the vehicle arriving in the state. The VRT appointment must be for within 30 days of arrival.
All vehicles imported from the UK require a customs declaration, and customs duty and VAT needs to be paid. Not all vehicles imported from Northern Ireland require a customs declaration. It depends on whether or not the vehicle was originally registered in the UK and when the vehicle was registered in the North.
Vehicles first registered in the UK and then imported to Northern Ireland before January 1st 2021 do not require a customs declaration and are not subject to customs duty or VAT.
Vehicles first registered in the UK and then imported to Northern Ireland after January 1st 2021 require a customs declaration and are generally subject to customs duty and VAT.
Vehicles first registered in Northern Ireland, that were never previously registered in the UK are not subject to customs duty or VAT.
New vehicles* purchased in Northern Ireland are not subject to customs duty but are subject to VAT.
*A vehicles is considered new if it is less than 6 months after entering into service, or has travelled 6,000 kilometres or less.
If you import a vehicle from outside the EU (including UK) to Ireland without completing a customs declaration then the vehicle has been illegally imported. Customs can seize the vehicle at the port of entry or if you try and VRT the vehicle you will be refused.
Sometimes people import vehicles to Ireland and don't realise they need to complete a customs declaration, if this happens to you, contact us as soon as possible and we will submit a customs declaration for you retrospectively.
For more details go to Request a Customs Declaration.
