Importing Household Goods to Ireland

Importing items from the United States to Ireland is pretty easy. However, what if you’re importing household goods and cars to Ireland? Would that be easy too?

This is the usual question asked by expatriates or even by returning Irish who want to ship their goods to Ireland. Customs procedures in Ireland are basically efficient because the process is highly computerized using the Direct Trade Input’s Automated Entry Processing or AEP. Among the necessary documents you have to present when claiming your import with the Customs Office include an import license, certificate of origin and an invoice among others.

You or your agent will be allowed to clear your imports through the AEP, and pay the necessary charges including excise duty, VAT and customs duty. The imported goods will be released only after the payment of the required fees through a back-guaranteed cheque, money order, bank draft, or Deferred Payment account.

Most shipments to Ireland are sent to the major cities including Wexford, Kinsale, Dublin, Galway, Cork and Belfast. However, there are shipping companies that are able to send shipments to other parts of Ireland. But no matter where your goods are shipped, it is significant to know that as a European Union member, Ireland follows a common trade policy with the other EU members. You can thus expect a common Customs tariff whether you are shipping to Ireland or the other EU members.

If you’re planning to establish residence in Ireland then you will be allowed to import household goods and personal effects from the United States without paying Customs Duty, although you do have to pay the Value Added tax (VAT). Included in the exemption are equipment you will personally use for your household, furnishings, household linen and your personal effects. However, you must have owned and possessed the items for at least six months before shipping them to Ireland.

The benefit of importing household goods to Ireland without paying their Customs Duty applies only to persons who have resided continuously outside the EU countries for a minimum of 12 months. If you have rented a place in Ireland as your residence for at least two years, then you are also qualified provided the said residence is not rented out to other people in the absence of the occupants. The claim to exemption from Ireland’s Customs duties can be made by the owner himself or the authorized agent.

You may be required by the Customs Office to make a deposit to ensure that the required Customs Duty for your imports is paid in case the residence is rented out before the stipulated two-year period. The same applies if you transfer the imported household items to a third person as a security for a loan or even if it is done free of charge or for a consideration, within the two-year period from the date of importation. Valuable household goods and personal effects that have been exempted from the payment of Customs Duties may be required to remain in the possession of the importer for up to 10 years.

You have to be forewarned about the numerous documentary requirements when shipping household goods and personal effects to Ireland. You have to make sure you obtain and fill out the following forms: Form 1074, Section 3 of which contains the required details for the evidence of transfer of your normal residence from the US to Ireland; signed inventory of the goods in English which should be the same as the signature in Form 1074 and then Form 1074 itself which is the Irish Customs form. While you need not be physically present to clear your imports, you need to be available in case Customs needs to contact you for any information.