Will it cost more to import after Brexit?
Post Brexit 1/11/19, if I am importing a used car from the UK, which I assume is now out of Europe, VRT will of course still apply, but is there going to be VAT and Customs duty applied? For example if I bought a mobile phone from Europe at 100 Euro no problem as it's a member state so no other taxes. If I bought the same phone in Singapore delivered to Ireland it would be subject to customs checks duty etc.
Keiron Padmore (Letterkenny)Sep 2019 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Keiron,
The short version is we simply don’t know. Until the UK government and parliament gets its act together and either exits with a deal, or crashes out with no deal, then everything is both on and off the table. In general, it’s assumed that the UK will continue to shadow most EU regulations in the immediate period after Brexit, which might suggest that VAT and customs duty won’t apply, and it’s unlikely that VAT would be charged in any case on a second hand car that’s more than six months old. That said, the Irish Government may take a view that, if there is no deal, it may have to protect the Irish market from the ‘dumping’ of cheap imports and may apply taxes or restrictions accordingly. The short version, I’m afraid, is that we still simply don’t know, and — given the current turmoil in UK politics — probably won’t for some time.
Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Advisor@neilmbriscoe