Ireland VAT Rate 2026: 23% Standard Rate

Standard rate 23% · Reduced 4.8%, 9%, 13.5% · Currency EUR

Ireland VAT Calculator

Current Ireland VAT Rate: 23%

How Much Is VAT in Ireland?

The standard VAT rate in Ireland is 23% in 2026. Other rates: 13.5% — Construction and repair services, cleaning, heating oil and coal, short-term car hire, hotel and holiday accommodation; 9% — Restaurant, catering and hot takeaway food and hairdressing (from 1 July 2026), gas and electricity, sports facilities, new apartments; 4.8% — Live cattle, sheep, pigs and horses for food production; 0% — Most food, children's clothing and footwear, oral medicines, books, e-books, newspapers, exports. Locally the tax is called Value-Added Tax (VAT). Among the 27 EU member states, standard VAT ranges from 17% in Luxembourg to 27% in Hungary.

How to calculate Ireland VAT

To add 23% VAT to a net (tax-exclusive) price, multiply it by 1.23. To remove VAT from a gross (tax-inclusive) price, divide it by 1.23.

  • Add VAT: EUR 100 net × 1.23 = EUR 123 gross (that is EUR 23 of VAT)
  • Remove VAT: EUR 123 gross ÷ 1.23 = EUR 100 net (that is EUR 23 of VAT)

Use the Ireland VAT calculator above for any amount, or compare Ireland with every other country in our VAT rates by country table.

Ireland VAT Rates Overview

Every VAT rate currently in force in Ireland

Current VAT Rates (2026)

Rate type Rate Applies to
Standard rate 23% Most goods and services, including alcohol, soft drinks, adult clothing, electronics and petrol
Reduced rate 13.5% Construction and repair services, cleaning, heating oil and coal, short-term car hire, hotel and holiday accommodation
Second reduced rate 9% Restaurant, catering and hot takeaway food and hairdressing (from 1 July 2026), gas and electricity, sports facilities, new apartments
Livestock rate 4.8% Live cattle, sheep, pigs and horses for food production
Zero rate 0% Most food, children's clothing and footwear, oral medicines, books, e-books, newspapers, exports

VAT History and Local Rules in Ireland

How the rates got here, and country-specific points to watch

Key VAT milestones

  • 2026: Restaurant, catering and hairdressing services cut from 13.5% to 9% on 1 July, with no end date
  • 2025: Budget 2026 extended 9% on gas and electricity to end-2030 and applied 9% to new apartments
  • 2023: E-books, audiobooks and solar panels for homes zero-rated
  • 2012: Standard rate raised from 21% to 23%
  • 1972: VAT introduced ahead of joining the EEC

Is the VAT rate the same everywhere in Ireland?

The same VAT rates apply throughout Ireland; Northern Ireland is part of the UK and uses UK VAT.

Good to know

From 1 July 2026 food served by restaurants, cafés, pubs and takeaways is taxed at 9%, but alcohol, soft drinks and bottled water stay at 23% and hotel rooms stay at 13.5%.

Ireland is one of the few EU countries still zero-rating a wide range of goods, including children's clothes and most food, under pre-1991 derogations.

Zero-Rated and Exempt Supplies in Ireland

The difference matters: zero-rating keeps input-VAT recovery, exemption does not

Zero-rated supplies (0%)

VAT is charged at 0%, but the seller can still recover input VAT on related costs:

  • Exports of goods outside the EU
  • Intra-EU B2B supplies of goods to VAT-registered customers
  • Most basic food
  • Children's clothing and footwear
  • Oral medicines
  • Printed books, e-books and audiobooks
  • Solar panels installed on private homes

VAT-exempt supplies

No VAT is charged, and the seller generally cannot recover input VAT on related costs:

  • Financial and insurance services
  • Medical and healthcare services
  • Education and vocational training
  • Passenger transport
  • Residential letting

Ireland VAT Registration & Compliance

Key facts for businesses registering for and reporting VAT in Ireland.

Local nameValue-Added Tax (VAT)
VAT number formatIE + 7 digits + 1 or 2 letters (e.g. IE1234567FA)
Registration thresholdEUR 85,000 for supplies of goods and EUR 42,500 for services, in any continuous 12-month period
Non-resident businessesNon-established businesses making taxable supplies in Ireland must register regardless of the thresholds
Filing frequencyBi-monthly VAT3 returns by default; annual or other periods by agreement with Revenue
Filing and payment deadline19th of the month after the period, extended to the 23rd when filed and paid via ROS; annual Return of Trading Details also required
E-invoicing / reportingNo mandatory B2B e-invoicing in 2026; Revenue has announced a phased VAT modernisation programme starting with large corporates
Tax authorityRevenue Commissioners

Thresholds, deadlines and e-invoicing rules are revised regularly. Always confirm current requirements with Revenue Commissioners before relying on them.

Cross-Border Sales and Refunds in Ireland

Selling into the country from abroad, and getting VAT back

Cross-border rules

Digital services and e-commerce: Foreign sellers of digital services to consumers in Ireland charge Ireland's VAT rate. EU businesses can declare it through the One-Stop Shop (OSS) once their EU-wide cross-border B2C sales exceed EUR 10,000; non-EU businesses use the non-Union OSS from the first sale.

Tourist VAT refunds: Non-EU visitors can reclaim VAT under the Retail Export Scheme through participating retailers and refund agents.

For the general rules, see the reverse charge mechanism, VAT on digital services, VAT invoice requirements and VAT refunds for tourists and businesses.

Compare VAT Rates

VAT rates in neighboring and similar economies

Nearby Countries

🇩🇪 Germany

Standard Rate: 19%

🇫🇷 France

Standard Rate: 20%

🇮🇹 Italy

Standard Rate: 22%

🇪🇸 Spain

Standard Rate: 21%

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about VAT in Ireland

What is the current VAT rate in Ireland?

The standard VAT rate in Ireland is 23% in 2026. Other rates in force: 13.5% (reduced rate), 9% (second reduced rate), 4.8% (livestock rate), 0% (zero rate). See the rates table above for exactly what each rate covers.

How do I calculate VAT in Ireland?

To add 23% VAT, multiply the net price by 1.23. To remove it from a VAT-inclusive price, divide by 1.23; the difference is the VAT. The calculator at the top of this page does both.

What is the VAT rate for restaurants in Ireland in 2026?

From 1 July 2026 restaurant and catering food and hairdressing services are taxed at 9%, down from 13.5%. Alcohol and soft drinks remain at 23%.

What is the VAT registration threshold in Ireland?

You must register once turnover exceeds, or is likely to exceed, EUR 85,000 for goods or EUR 42,500 for services in any 12-month period. Non-established businesses have no threshold.

Is children's clothing VAT-free in Ireland?

Yes. Children's clothing and footwear are zero-rated in Ireland, as are most basic foods, books and oral medicines.

Sources

Official and professional references used for this page

Last reviewed on 27 September 2026.