Any way around paying VRT on import?

Hi,

Could you please tell if there is a way of getting a car into Ireland from the UK without paying VRT? I am interested in bringing in a Peugeot 308 that seem to sell a lot cheaper and have smaller mileage in the UK. Say if I bought the car in Scotland and left it in my brother's house for six months or so (taxed and insured in my name), could I bring the car back to Ireland without paying the dreaded VRT?

Who is to say I wasn't using the car in the UK?

Thank you

Ruairi Mc Carthy (Mullagh Co Cavan)

Apr 2016 Filed under: importing

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Expert answer

Hi Ruairi,

Nice idea, but it won't work. Do you really think the good folk at Revenue haven't thought of that particular plan before? The official documents state that not only must the car be insured and taxed, you have to have physically been resident overseas too, in "the place where you usually lived, for at least 185 days in the year ending on the date of transfer, because of occupational and personal ties."

There are a bunch of other restrictions on the transfer of address waiver and you can find them here: http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/leaflets/tax-relief-transfer-residence.html

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Advisor
@neilmbriscoe