Paying VAT on goods from EU to Northern Ireland

There are special procedures for moving goods in and out of Northern Ireland. Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, all Northern Ireland businesses continue to have access to the whole UK market. 

There is specific guidance published by HMRC that should be followed for goods that are received into Northern Ireland from a supplier in the EU.

• If you are registered for VAT in the UK and receive goods in Northern Ireland from countries in the EU, you will normally account for the VAT through your VAT Return. You will need to account for the VAT at the same rate that you would have paid if you had bought them from a UK supplier. This VAT is known as acquisition VAT, and you can normally reclaim some or all of this if the acquisitions relate to VAT taxable supplies that you make.
• If you are not VAT registered and receive goods in Northern Ireland from countries in the EU, your supplier will charge VAT at the local rate in the EU country from which the goods are supplied. If you are not already registered for VAT in the UK and buy goods worth £90,000 (£85,000 prior to 1 April 2024) you may be required to register for VAT.

You may also be required to complete an Intrastat Supplementary Declaration if your acquisitions of goods from the EU exceed an annual amount. The delivery terms threshold for both arrivals and dispatches is currently £24 million.