Importing from the UK. Please Help

siobhan08

Hey

I'm a student from Ireland who has spent the last 2 years studying in the UK. Before coming over I sold my Irish car and while here I purchased a UK registered car. Now that my course in finished I'm returning to Ireland as I plan to study a postgraduate course.

As this is not the normal case of buying a car paying VRT etc could anybody offer advice as I'm under the impression that I won't have to pay VRT because the car is registered in my name in the UK. The car is a 2005

There is a slight problem being that I return to Ireland on the 9th of June and fly out to the states for 4 months on the 13th and need to try and get things sorted as my mother wants to use it while I'm away.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

CiboC

Probably not what you want to hear, but it looks like you will have to pay the VRT....

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/leaflets/tax-relief-transfer-residence.html

theteal

Iirc, if you've owned the car over 6 months you don't have to pay VRT. Open to correction on that though.

Kenny Logins

theteal wrote: »

Iirc, if you've owned the car over 6 months you don't have to pay VRT. Open to correction on that though.

From the link posted above

You do not qualify for relief from VRT

if you went to live abroad primarily for the purpose of pursuing a course of studies

siobhan08

Kenny Logins wrote: »

From the link posted above

Well I could leave that piece of information as I have been working so can show ties through payslips etc... How much VRT would be on a 10 year old car anyway? its not like I could profit from selling it

siobhan08

gunna bump this
anybody provide more information

Atlantic Dawn

If you were primarily a student you have to pay VRT.

siobhan08

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

If you were primarily a student you have to pay VRT.

why is that ?

I've been out of the country for almost 2 year and can show evidence of work and active bank statements and family ties to the UK. I shouldn't have to pay the Irish Government money to return home with my car

siobhan08

how would they know I was a student if I don't tell them?
Surely they wouldn't have access to that kind of records

Gumbo

siobhan08 wrote: »

how would they know I was a student if I don't tell them?
Surely they wouldn't have access to that kind of records

how can we answer the question then tbh.
Apply for an exemption, if you get it, great. If you dont, pay the VRT.

Get a quote on the ROS website so you know what to expect in the worse case scenario.

siobhan08

kceire wrote: »

how can we answer the question then tbh.
Apply for an exemption, if you get it, great. If you dont, pay the VRT.

Get a quote on the ROS website so you know what to expect in the worse case scenario.

I did and it came in at over €700. that can't be right as the car is 10 years old.

CathalDublin

siobhan08 wrote: »

I did and it came in at over €700. that can't be right as the car is 10 years old.

website must be wrong so.

siobhan08

CathalDublin wrote: »

website must be wrong so.

I don't mean that. I mean how can they charge that much for such an old car

bazz26

There is a minimum original market value and VRT amount Revenue charge on the car.

bazz26

siobhan08 wrote: »

how would they know I was a student if I don't tell them?
Surely they wouldn't have access to that kind of records

I'd imagine they will seek some sort of information from your current employer over just taking your word for it that you are working. Number of weekly hours you work, full or part time, etc.

siobhan08

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd imagine they will seek some sort of information from your current employer over just taking your word for it that you are working. Number of weekly hours you work, full or part time, etc.

I've got my offer letter, contract, monthly payslips, a P60 and a letter from the new contractors that have taken over where I work transferring my employment to them that I can present to show evidence of working here.I also have evidence of taxing the car, MOT and insurance cert

suchafunkymonke

Do your payslips cover a "normal" monthly income? If you were working pretty much full time and studying part time then I would leave out the student bit.

I brought both my cars from the UK when I moved so had to do this twice.

You won't get this done before the 13th June as you first need to apply for exemption with the revenue, then when you have it you need to book a VRT inspection when you will get your plates, followed by booking a NCT once you have the plates.

The letter of the law says it needs to be done within 4 weeks, but its not possible. It took 8 weeks for the first car and 6 for the second.

siobhan08

suchafunkymonke wrote: »

Do your payslips cover a "normal" monthly income? If you were working pretty much full time and studying part time then I would leave out the student bit.

I brought both my cars from the UK when I moved so had to do this twice.

You won't get this done before the 13th June as you first need to apply for exemption with the revenue, then when you have it you need to book a VRT inspection when you will get your plates, followed by booking a NCT once you have the plates.

The letter of the law says it needs to be done within 4 weeks, but its not possible. It took 8 weeks for the first car and 6 for the second.

Yes my payslips are monthly. Wasn't working near full time. Work about 20 hours a week when the hours were available.

I arrive into dublin on the 9th and fly out to america for 4 months to work on the 13th. I want to try and get as much sorted before going to america. Can I post my exemption application from the UK ? I've looked up vrt inspection in could get an appointment on the 9th at my local not test centre. I probably won't be able to get it done on time so could I authorise my mother to it on my behalf ?

slimjimmc

How long have you been employed? You've only been getting 20 hours irregularly ("when the hours were available") so I suspect the first thing Revenue will ask is what have you been doing with the rest of your time. Bear in mind that it's up to you to convince them that you qualify for exemption so expect very probing questions and evidence.

suchafunkymonke

You need to provide evidence of "living outside the state" which means payslips, bills, mortgage statements etc as well evidence that the vehicle has entered the state (e.g. ferry ticket), so you can't do it advance.

You could SORN you car in the UK, leave it parked up and then import it when you come back. It was almost a year before I went back for my second car.

siobhan08

suchafunkymonke wrote: »

You need to provide evidence of "living outside the state" which means payslips, bills, mortgage statements etc as well evidence that the vehicle has entered the state (e.g. ferry ticket), so you can't do it advance.

You could SORN you car in the UK, leave it parked up and then import it when you come back. It was almost a year before I went back for my second car.

I can't SORN the car as I need it to transport my stuff once I leave England. I have payslips and bank statements as I lived with family here. I have my boat booked could I not use the booking email as evidence of it going it going into the country. Could my mother not bring it to the VRT inspection and NCT on my behalf?

suchafunkymonke

Anyone can bring it for an NCT, but I'm not sure about the VRT inspection.

Ring your local revenue office. I found them to be very helpful.

siobhan08

suchafunkymonke wrote: »

Anyone can bring it for an NCT, but I'm not sure about the VRT inspection.

Ring your local revenue office. I found them to be very helpful.

Alright so if someone else could bring it it could be sorted while I'm away. Thank you you've be really helpful ðŸ˜႒

siobhan08

bumping this thread as I have a few more questions

The place where I worked before moving to the UK kept me on the books and I picked up the odd hours here and there when I was in the country. Could this go against me?

Can the revenue question my level of wages and why they were pretty low or is it a case that I've provided evidence of working abroad regardless of the amount I've earned? I only have one bank statement as I was on paperless billing and have just stopped it to get a physical bank statement. Will that be enough along with pension payments, payslips, v5c form, motor tax and work contract/offer letter. I lived with family here so had no outgoings with the exception of phone, car tax, car insurance and general running of the car.
what else would you recommend getting to apply for an exemption ?

jetfiremuck

I'd get a clean pre 80 car in the uk. 200 to clear and away you go. No messing around

billy few mates

I don't see why you have to show them a minimum amount of hours you worked. You could just tell them you were living with a rich boyfriend who paid for everything and you just did a few hours here and there to get you out of the house.

al22

I am not a specialist on car imports

In some countries to import 3+ years old car is more expensive than to import a new one and 5+ years would be cheaper to buy a new one. They just do not want old rubbish to be imported in.

siobhan08

billy few mates wrote: »

I don't see why you have to show them a minimum amount of hours you worked. You could just tell them you were living with a rich boyfriend who paid for everything and you just did a few hours here and there to get you out of the house.

Yeah I did think that would be the case. if I show evidence of working in the UK its really none of their business why I only worked a few hours and I lived with family so had no outgoings.

The thing I'm unsure of is place where I worked before moving to the UK kept me on the books and I picked up the odd hours here and there when I was in the country. so I'm thinking this could go against me. Manager only did it to be nice incase the UK didn't work out so would have the option of coming home if I wanted

CiniO

al22 wrote: »

I am not a specialist on car imports

In some countries to import 3+ years old car is more expensive than to import a new one and 5+ years would be cheaper to buy a new one. They just do not want old rubbish to be imported in.

What countries are that?

Emsloe

I got an exemption a couple of years ago when I brought my car in after studying in the UK. I had worked part-time for the 12 months prior to importing the car, and provided payslips to verify that along with lease agreements, utility bills etc. They never asked why I was working so few hours/earning so little and I didn't mention anything about university. My typical monthly earnings were circa €500.

How regular were you working in Ireland? Could you say you popped over here and there for holidays and your boss needed a handed? Tbh I found Revenue really pleasant to deal with and not at all accusatory.

siobhan08

Emsloe wrote: »

I got an exemption a couple of years ago when I brought my car in after studying in the UK. I had worked part-time for the 12 months prior to importing the car, and provided payslips to verify that along with lease agreements, utility bills etc. They never asked why I was working so few hours/earning so little and I didn't mention anything about university. My typical monthly earnings were circa €500.

How regular were you working in Ireland? Could you say you popped over here and there for holidays and your boss needed a handed? Tbh I found Revenue really pleasant to deal with and not at all accusatory.

That's pretty much the same situation as me. Earn about £450 a month when doing extra hours or £300 when just doing my contracted hours. Lived with family so don't have any utility bill or lease agreement but do have my contract/offer letter/pension payment statement and pay slips. I intend on going through with an exemption but not mention university. I can imagine the government could trace it. How long did the exemption to come through? bring the car home next Tuesday and intend on going into the revenue on Wednesday. I have already book my VRT inspection for the friday.

On the saturday I'm heading traveling for 4 month, do ye reckon I should mention it?

Can i just get the VRT and Irish plates sorted and then wait to sort out insurance,tax and NCT until I get back instead of paying out for tax and insurance that I wont be using while away?

The work in Ireland wasn't very regular as I wasn't home much maybe 2-3 day at Christmas in 2014 and 2013 and then I was home for 3 weeks in June 2014 and got a little bit then and home again for 2 weeks in Sept 2014. Other than that I've not been home or I've been home and not worked

sunnysoutheast

siobhan08 wrote: »

That's pretty much the same situation as me. Earn about £450 a month when doing extra hours or £300 when just doing my contracted hours. Lived with family so don't have any utility bill or lease agreement but do have my contract/offer letter/pension payment statement and pay slips. I intend on going through with an exemption but not mention university. I can imagine the government could trace it. How long did the exemption to come through? bring the car home next Tuesday and intend on going into the revenue on Wednesday. I have already book my VRT inspection for the friday.

On the saturday I'm heading traveling for 4 month, do ye reckon I should mention it?

Can i just get the VRT and Irish plates sorted and then wait to sort out insurance,tax and NCT until I get back instead of paying out for tax and insurance that I wont be using while away?

I am not sure you will have the exemption letter by Friday. Mine took a week to come through.

siobhan08

sunnysoutheast wrote: »

I am not sure you will have the exemption letter by Friday. Mine took a week to come through.

Ah crap could I get my mother to take the car for the inspection or does it have to be me?

How exactly does the exemption work. Go just go into the revenue of and give ur detail and document. Do they tell you there and their if you will get in?

sunnysoutheast

siobhan08 wrote: »

Ah crap could I get my mother to take the car for the inspection or does it have to be me?

How exactly does the exemption work. Go just go into the revenue of and give ur detail and document. Do they tell you there and their if you will get in?

I assume you have read this?

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/leaflets/tax-relief-transfer-residence.html

I don't know if it is possible to get the exemption letter more quickly.

siobhan08

sunnysoutheast wrote: »

I assume you have read this?

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/leaflets/tax-relief-transfer-residence.html

I don't know if it is possible to get the exemption letter more quickly.

Yeah I've read all that just no sure what to expect when I go into the revenue

dashcamdanny

This all seems like a royal pain in the arse with paperwork. Why not bring it over with your stuff and sell it up north.