The VRT Export Repayment Scheme, as provided for in section 135D of the Finance Act 1992 (inserted by s83 (1)(j) Finance Act 2012), allows for the repayment of “residual” Vehicle Registration Tax on passenger vehicles permanently exported from the State.
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This scheme allows a vehicle owner to claim repayment of the ‘residual’ Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) when exporting the vehicle. The owner is the person listed on the National Vehicle Driver File (NVDF) at the time the vehicle is examined. If you are unsure that you are the registered owner, please contact the Department of Transport.
To be eligible, the vehicle must:
Some vehicles may already have received a repayment of VRT under another scheme. In this case, they may not qualify for a repayment as there is no ‘residual’ VRT left in the vehicle.
However, where a part payment of VRT has already been made, there may be residual VRT left in the vehicle.
The value used by Revenue to calculate VRT is called the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP). Where the OMSP of the vehicle is less than €2,000, the vehicle does not qualify for the scheme.
Passenger vehicles (EU Vehicle Category M1), that are registered in the State and on which VRT has been paid, are the only vehicles eligible for the Export Repayment Scheme.
It should be noted, that where a full exemption of VRT on the vehicle has been granted, as in the case of the following Exemptions, the vehicle will not be eligible for a repayment, as there is no residual VRT remaining on the vehicle.
Where a partial exemption of VRT on the vehicle has been granted, the amount of exemption will be taken into consideration when calculating the residual VRT remaining on the vehicle.
Where the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) of a vehicle is calculated to be less than €2,000, the vehicle does not qualify for a repayment under the Export Repayment Scheme.
VRT Repayment Amount enquiry
As a vehicle owner who wishes to export an M1 Passenger Vehicle permanently from the State, you can check the Export VRT Repayment Enquiry system for an indicative amount of VRT that may be repayable.
NCTS Examination
An appointment for an export examination can be made through one of the following methods:
At the time of the NCTS Examination, you must provide:
The onus is on the owner of the vehicle to ensure that the Vehicle Registration Certificate is up to date. The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on the vehicle and on the VRC must match; otherwise the vehicle will fail the examination stage. In this event you should contact the Central Vehicle Office directly (The Revenue Commissioners, Central Vehicle Office, Rosslare Harbour, Co. Wexford).
Once the Export Repayment Examination is complete you will receive an Export Examination receipt indicating the VRT Repayable amount.
Please note that a repayment will only be made to the person listed as the registered owner on the National Vehicle Driver File at the point of examination. It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is contacted in advance of the examination and that the file has been updated prior to presentation at an NCTS centre.
Vehicle Export
You then have 30 days from the date of Export Repayment Examination to export the vehicle from the State.
Documentation must be provided to prove to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that the vehicle was removed from the State within 30 days of its examination, along with proof that the vehicle has subsequently been registered in another Member State or has been permanently exported outside the European Union.
VRT Repayment Claim and the process
Finally, a completed Export Repayment Scheme Application Form must be submitted by you to Revenue along with proof of export and subsequent registration.
In the event of a successful claim, the VRT Repayment will be made to the last recorded owner on the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF).
This scheme allows the owner of a car to claim repayment of the 'residual' VRT when the car is exported. The owner is the person listed on the National Vehicle Driver File (NVDF) at the time the vehicle is examined. If you are unsure that you are the registered owner, please contact the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
More information on the process can be found on the Revenue Website
The National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) is a database containing details of all 2.5 million registered vehicles and their owners, as well as the 2.6 million licensed drivers in the country.
The system, which is maintained and supported by the Driver and Vehicle Computer Services Division of the Dept of Transport Tourism and Sport, located in Shannon, Co. Clare, is central to the processing of motor tax and driving licence business. The NVDF also fulfills legal obligations in relation to the national driver and vehicle registers.
The law requires that all changes of vehicle ownership must be notified to the Department of Transport and the changes recorded on the NVDF.
There is a €100 administration charge payable, which will be deducted from the amount of VRT that is repayable.
There is also a charge for an examination of the vehicle and supporting documentation at the NCTS Centre. The fee is €103.25 and is paid directly to Applus Inspection Services Ireland Ltd. at the NCTS Centre. If a retest is required, there is a charge of €51.62
An appointment for an export examination can be made through one of the following methods:
The amount of tax to be repaid is a percentage of the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP). You may find out the OMSP relating to a make and model of vehicle and the corresponding VRT repayment online using the Vehicle Registration On-line Enquiry System. The percentage used depends on the declared CO2 emissions of the vehicle at the time of manufacture.
Please be aware that the on-line VRT calculation will not take into consideration any prior remissions/refunds/repayments associated with a particular vehicle arising from Appeals or Exemptions.
These remissions/refunds/repayments will be taken into consideration when calculating the amount of VRT repayable at the time of the Export Examination at the NCTS Centre. The VRT repayment amount which is advised to you by NCTS, following the examination procedure, will have been reduced by amounts previously remitted/refunded/repaid.
An administration charge of €100 will automatically be deducted from the repayment amount by Revenue.
The NCTS will also apply a fee of €103.25 for the Export Examination service.
An appointment for an export examination can be made through one of the following methods:
As the vehicle owner, you must provide:
At the time of the NCTS Examination, you must provide:
Please note that a repayment will only be made to the person listed as the registered owner on the National Vehicle Driver File at the point of examination. It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is contacted in advance of the examination and that the file has been updated prior to presentation at an NCTS centre.
Yes. Once the third party has a Letter of Authorisation from you, they may submit the vehicle for Export Examination at an NCTS Centre on your behalf. Any VRT Repayment due however, will be payable to the last recorded owner on the NVDF.
The third party must also bring:
There are 3 different types of claim form, all of which are available to download below:
This will depend on whether the vehicle has been removed to another Member State of the EU, or whether it has been exported to a country outside the EU. Each claim form provides a checklist of relevant proofs to be provided, and further details are also listed below.
Remember, in all cases, the onus is on you to prove that you meet the requirements of the Scheme. If the necessary documentary evidence is not furnished, a VRT Repayment cannot be granted.
Please pay particular attention to the documentary requirements, full details of which are listed in the notes section of the Claim form. Incomplete claim forms or claims, which are not accompanied by the required documentary proofs, will be returned.
Please pay particular attention to the documentary requirements, full details of which are listed in the notes section of the Claim form. Incomplete claim forms or claims, which are not accompanied by the required documentary proofs, will be returned.
Please pay particular attention to the documentary requirements, full details of which are listed in the notes section of the Claim form. Incomplete claim forms or claims, which are not accompanied by the required documentary proofs, will be returned.
In the case of removal to another EU member state, if a vehicle is registered within 30 days of the Export Repayment Examination by the NCTS, then proof of that Registration is sufficient.
However, in the event that the registration of the vehicle is greater than 30 days after the NCTS Examination, separate proof is required to show that the vehicle was removed from the State within 30 days. Full details may be found on the relevant Claim form.
There are no fines or penalties for not making a claim. But if you do not apply for the repayment to the Central Repayments Office, you will not receive any VRT repayment due.
However, if you do not export the vehicle from the State within 30 days, you must make another appointment with the NCTS Centre to have the VRT Repayment amount recalculated, and it is the recalculated VRT Repayment amount to which you will be entitled, and not the repayment amount from your first Export Examination.
The NCTS Centre will charge a fee for each Export Examination appointment.
The fee is €103.25 and is paid directly to Applus Inspection Services Ireland Ltd at the NCTS Centre.
It is an offence to make a false declaration for the purposes of obtaining repayment of tax, under Section 1078 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997.
Claims will be processed by Revenue’s Central Repayments Office. The claim form along with relevant documents should be posted to:
Central Repayments Office
M-TEK 11 Building
Armagh Road
Monaghan
Email: cromon@revenue.ie
Phone: Lo-Call 1890 60 60 61, also 04762100
FAX: 04762196
Please ensure all required documents are enclosed. Incomplete forms or forms not accompanied by all necessary documentation will be returned.
Once the claim has been processed and the Revenue Commissioners are satisfied the conditions of the Export Repayment Scheme have been met, the VRT repayment will be approved.
Where a repayment is due, the VRT Repayment will only be made to the last recorded owner on the NVDF, and these details must match the associated Revenue Customer Number quoted at the time of Examination at the NCTS centre.
Once a claim has been duly processed and allowed, a VRT Repayment will issue directly to your official address. Please note, that the amount repayable will be offset against any outstanding tax liability. In cases where Tax Returns are outstanding, a Claim cannot be finalised until the Return/s is/are submitted.
In the case of Trader Account Number (TAN) holders, repayments will be made, as normal, through CASH or DEFERRED ACCOUNTS.
The vehicle must be exported within 30 days of its examination at an NCTS Centre.
If you do not export the vehicle from the State within 30 days, you must make another appointment with the NCTS Centre to have the VRT Repayment amount recalculated, and it is the recalculated VRT Repayment amount to which you will be entitled, and not the repayment amount from your first Export Examination.
The NCTS Centre will charge a fee of €103.25 for each Export Examination appointment. Should a retest be required, there is a charge of €51.62
Yes. Where a vehicle is being permanently removed or exported from the State, you should inform the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, through their local Motor Tax Office
A vehicle that gets a repayment under the export repayment scheme is classed as unregistered. Such vehicles brought back into the State must be presented by you for registration within 30 days.
Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) will be payable at the time of registration and a new Irish registration number will be issued. This new registration number will allow the vehicle to be road taxed by the Motor Tax Office.
It is an offence to display the original number on such a vehicle.
On permanently removing the vehicle from the State, the owner must notify the Department of Transport.