[cormie]

Hi,
I have my eye on a commercial van or two on ebay ending soon which I'd be hoping to buy for my vat registered (in Ireland, not in UK) business.

I've a few questions before I commit to any sale and if anyone could confirm I'd greatly appreciate it as I don't have much time left

If a van has UK VAT added, I can just give them my irish vat number and they can subtract VAT off price I pay. Please correct me if I'm wrong

As far as I know, VRT on a commercial is 50 euro, but I've been told if I buy any vehicle and bring it into Ireland, I'll have to also pay the IRISH vat rate on the revenues value of the vehicle. So say revenue value a van I buy for 5K sterling, at 10K euro, I'll have to pay my £5,000, plus 21.5% of €10,000 (€2,150) plus €50 VRT. If £5,000 = about €5,500, it will end up costing me about €7,700 total. Is this true?

How do I know the van I'm buying belongs to the seller? I was on to one guy and he said he doesn't have the log book, but he has some other form to say it's his. What should I be looking for and what is essential when buying a vehicle in the UK?

Is it possible for somebody else to pick up the van for me with my money? What would they need in order to do so?

How do I get an Irish reg on it once it's back here? Must it pass DOE before doing so and getting taxed?

If there's anything else I should know, please share

Any feedback appreciated

[drunkmonkey]

can you not put off paying the vat on the van untill you sell it and then pay the vat on the sale?

[Drummerboy08]

For the few hundred euro you might save, and for the piece of mind, just buy a van over here.

[Saab Ed]

+1

What type of van are you after ? ( how much do you think you're saving OP ?)

[cormie]

Looking for a Ford Transit 14 foot floor to floor luton box body van 3.5tn GVW either for about €2,500 or about €5,000.

Comparing UK to Irish, I'd get a lot more for my money there buying from ebay or the likes. But if the VAT thing is true, that makes it a whole different story.

[fm]

but if your vat registered cant you just claim back any vat charged like you would if you bought from an irish dealer?

[Stephen]

Surely VAT should only be payable on the UK side if you're buying a new van? Since its on ebay I imagine its used and the first owner paid any relevant VAT.

[Saab Ed]

Originally Posted by cormie

Looking for a Ford Transit 14 foot floor to floor luton box body van 3.5tn GVW either for about €2,500 or about €5,000.

Comparing UK to Irish, I'd get a lot more for my money there buying from ebay or the likes. But if the VAT thing is true, that makes it a whole different story.

I can see why a 2500 quid van on ebay looks so attractive but an english 2500 qud van wont be pretty. Be very carfull with rust on chassis rails and corrosion on any steering / suspension arms etc because they salt their roads. Every nut and bolt will be ceased up and you can be sure you're gonna have to replace all the brakelines and what not to get it through and Irish DOE. And you can almost be sure that there's no VAT on a €2500 van anyway. As I've said here before dont forget your time + airfare + ferry + comeback + work to be carried out when you bring it back. Vans are cheap everywhere here at the moment , just look around.

[cormie]

I read that about the salting and rust before but I thought the claim was dismissed? Or that it's not much different to here or something?

True that it's definitely a lot of hassle to get to the UK to get one, but that's why I was asking if it is possible for somebody to pay and collect for me I wonder?

[al2009]

i imported a van 2 years ago, gave my vat number and my understanding is as i bought it vat exempt it's to be sold vat exempt?

al

[cormie]

I'm not sure what the situation is really.

One of the vans I had my eye on ends in 2 hours, it's at a price I would jump at if it was in Dublin, if somebody could just confirm how much I should expect to pay on a £5,000 purchase if revenue value it at €10,000 after reg application, vrt, vat and everything. I know the ferry will add a chunk and that, but you have to remember that the sooner I get it sorted, the less work I'll end up doing with research, phone calls and all that.

[al2009]

the only fee i paid was the 50vrt, they didn't even check the van, so long as the paper work is ok, you should be fine?

al

[cormie]

What paperwork should I be looking for when I buy it? did you buy it private or off a dealer? Do I need a log book do you know?

[al2009]

i bought it off a dealer in london, flew over friday morning and looked at 3 vans, took the cleanest!! can't remember the document but it's a change of ownership form and you keep the relevent parts for registering here, if you don't then you can be waiting a week or two for the department in Swansea to send you the document.

al

[cormie]

And there was definitely nothing about having to pay the vat when you brought it over here? I wonder would it be different if it's a private sale and I buy it with no UK vat added on to it?