Overview for businesses in Ireland

When you purchase goods from Great Britain and the rest of the world, you may have to pay import VAT if the goods you import are subject to VAT in Ireland. For most imported goods the standard 23% VAT rate is applied.

 TIP: Any VAT registered business can decide how to account for the import VAT. You can choose to pay the import VAT on or soon after the goods arrive at the Irish border or you can use postponed accounting to pay and reclaim VAT in one go. Find out how to use postponed accounting. 

You need to make customs declarations when importing goods. You can do this yourself or hire a customs agent or transporter to do it for you.

Before you start, make sure you have an Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number starting with IE.

Revenue guide to importing goods (opens in new tab)

1. Go to Purchases, Purchase Invoices, and select New Invoice.
2. In the Supplier field, select your overseas supplier from the list, or type the supplier name.
   If the supplier is not a saved contact, select Add a supplier to create a record for them.
    TIP: Make sure each supplier has the correct country set on their address and a VAT registration number where applicable. 
3. On the first invoice line, select a product from the list, or start typing its name to find it. If the product is not a saved item, enter a description for the item or select Create item to create a record for it.
4. In EU Goods/Services select Goods (and related services).
5. Select the VAT rate that you would apply if the purchase was made in Ireland (for reporting purposes). The VAT amount is automatically set to zero.
   Repeat steps 3 to 5 on a new line for as many items as you need to add to your invoice.
6. Select Save.

Create a purchase invoice with postponed accounting

1. Go to Purchases, Purchase Invoices, and select New Invoice.
2. In the Supplier field, select your overseas supplier from the list, or type the supplier name.
   If the supplier is not a saved contact, select Add a supplier to create a record for them.
    TIP: Make sure each supplier has the correct country set on their address and a VAT registration number where applicable. 
3. On the first invoice line, select a product from the list, or start typing its name to find it. If the product is not a saved item, enter a description for the item or select Create item to create a record for it.
4. In EU Goods/Services select Goods (and related services).
5. Select the VAT rate that you would apply if the purchase was made in Ireland. The VAT amount is automatically set to zero but is still recorded on the VAT return.
   Repeat steps 3 to 5 on a new line for as many items as you need to add to your invoice.
6. Select Save.

The VAT return

VAT is reported in box T1 - VAT on Sales and T2 - VAT on purchases.

The net value is reported in box PA1 - Value of goods imported under postponed accounting.

Return to invoicing overseas from Ireland