VRT residency rule.

Chopper12

Hello,
I have lived and worked in the UK for the last 12 years. I will be moving back to Ireland in September 2014. I will be bringing my van which I have owned for the last 7 years so this will be VRT exempt. The thing is I want to bring it back at the end of April as the insurance and tax is up then. My question is, will it be ok to bring the van back a couple of months before I actually move? I intend on parking it up until I move home, nothing dodgy.
Any ideas?
Sorry one more question, can a partner do the same thing? Bring a car back after 6 months ownership and be VRT exempt or is there a one couple rule?
Thanks.

whippet

there shouldn't be any problem in what you are doing .. however, you much register and tax it here when you bring it in.

You can bring as many cars home as you like, as long as they all meet the criteria (6 month rule etc ..) .. my wife brought two cars home with her when she moved back.

corktina

the point is he wants to bring them back 6 months before he moves himself and I don't know what the situation will be Ask Revenue.

CiniO

I think one of the rules is that you owned and used car abroad for 6 months before moving.
So I think option of bringing your van in April is rather no go.

Guy:Incognito

Worst case with the van even if it wasn't VRT exempt itd be only €200 anyway would it not?

CiniO

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Worst case with the van even if it wasn't VRT exempt itd be only €200 anyway would it not?

I think €200 applies to bigger vans - like transit.
Anything car derived or berlingo type, would be at 13.3% of OMSP

slimjimmc

Why not just keep using the van as normal until you import it to Ireland. You can apply for a refund of UK vehicle tax when you export the vehicle from the UK, and your insurance company will give a refund based on the remaining policy term minus a fee.
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-tax-disc-refund-form-v14

Chopper12

I would but I am going to buy a car that my wife can then bring home in six months.

CiniO

Chopper12 wrote: »

I would but I am going to buy a car that my wife can then bring home in six months.

I think you can bring both.
Open to correction, but I suppose there is no limit to one vehicle per person, not even mentioning one vehicle per couple.
I'd say you can bring even 5 vehicles if you wish, assuming you can prove you owned them and used them abroad for 6 months before moving to Ireland.

slimjimmc

Since you are a non-state resident you can import a vehicle in Ireland for up to 12 months without having to register it here. Once you become resident you can contact Revenue to formally import it and get a VRT exemption. If you go this route you may have to SORD the van in the UK in the meantime since it may not be formally exported until you register it here.

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/leaflets/temporary-exemption-foreign-registered.html

Obviously you would need to get it to your storage location here before the tax and insurance runs out. Bear in mind when you go to formally import the van in Sept that without tax and insurance you will not be able to drive it to the VRT centre, so factor in getting it trailered there. Plus the van will be not be insured against fire or theft for those months.

I'd have a chat with Revenue just to make sure there are no hidden trip ups such as keeping the van road legal at all times even while off the road.

Chopper12

Thanks for that Slimjimmc but I have decided to keep the van in the UK and bring it back when I move home properly.

I did speak to revenue on a number of occasions but none of them could give me an answer and I was pushed from pillar to post without an answer. I am not going to risk leaving it in Ireland uninsured or untaxed until September and then be told there is a fine or something.

There is far too much bureaucracy, so much so that the revenue people don't even know what is legal or not!