can I be charged import tax/duty bringing my own belongings into ireland?

Tracey Jane

Hi folks, I recently travelled home to ireland on the Holyhead to Dublin ferry. I had some furniture in the car which was my mums (she died recently) I was pulled up by Customs and the guy said I couldn't be bringing furniture backwards and forwards. When he came back to talk to me he said I should have filled out a form and paid some sort of tax before I travelled. I have searched for information about this but can only find things related to buying and selling goods. I'm very confused! The official let me go on without charging me or anything. Any help appreciated

Yes, you can. They're goods. There's no exemption.

Dial Hard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120876197#Comment_120876197

I have a feeling it's a bit more nuanced than that. By your logic you could be hit for customs on the clothes in your suitcase every time you come back from a holiday outside the EU.

Tracey Jane

Thanks. What about if someone is moving house? Do they have to pay tax on all their belongings?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120876221#Comment_120876221

Only if you bought/acquired them while you were abroad.

3DataModem

The general rule is that when travelling from outside the EU to Ireland, anything you acquired while abroad may be liable for customs / duty.

At the very least you generally need to make a declaration;

https://www.revenue.ie/en/customs/businesses/brexit/declaration-roles-responsibilities/importer/bringing-goods-ireland-gb.aspx#:~:text=There%20is%20a%20legal%20requirement,of%20the%20goods%20departing%20GB.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120876221#Comment_120876221

Different jurisdiction, but it quite literally happened to me coming across the land border from Washington to British Columbia a few years ago. The customs official opened my suitcase and wanted to know where I'd bought the clothes - they weren't old, but they were brand new either. She accused me of cutting the labels off them and then gave up and let me go. She really was quite pushing on the topic though. It was only when she figured I wasn't living in Canada she stopped.

Marcusm

There are exemptions for transfers of residence but it’s unclear that applies here.

Tracey Jane

Do you know where I can find information about these exemptions? Thanks

cats pyjamas

https://www.revenue.ie/en/customs/individuals/inherited/index.aspx#:~:text=You%20should%20complete%20an%20Inheritance,such%20as%20a%20death%20certificate

You can also contact Customs by email/phone and they will give you information

Tracey Jane

Great thanks for that

Charles Babbage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120876221#Comment_120876221

By definition duty is on your own belongings, the customs do not in general accuse you of having stolen them.

The general suggestion is that you are going to import the clothes and then export them again, likewise your phone and watch. Furniture you probably you do not plan to export again and the OP probably lived in Ireland.

Glencarraig

So if I was to go on a holiday to the UK which included me bringing my bought in Ireland expensive fishing gear that I would have to fill out all sorts of forms to declare that I was "exporting" them and "reimporting" them on my return?

Donald Trump

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120927913#Comment_120927913

I seem to remember something along the lines that if moving, you can bring your stuff with you, but you are supposed to have owed it for 6 months or something to that effect.

Charles Babbage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120969913#Comment_120969913

Not the UK, only Britain, you can go to NI whenever you want. Nobody cares if you export them, you could be queried on your return or by the British.

Good old Brexit.

Spook_ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058305850/can-i-be-charged-import-tax-duty-bringing-my-own-belongings-into-ireland

this link should be helpful

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/returning-to-ireland/

afatbollix

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120969913#Comment_120969913

Thanks to Brexit you need a carnet to do it properly. Absolutely pain in the hole and expensive.

CelticRambler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120969913#Comment_120969913

To/from GB, basically yes - and the same applies to photography equipment, musical instruments, and any other hobby material that could be considered as having "professional" use/value.

As my GB-resident son could testify, you can also be stung for duties on gifts for Irish family members that you've neatly stowed in your luggage.