Landmark VRT ruling 13.11.11

A local anti-VRT campaigner has welcomed the news that the European Commission has requested the Irish government to modify the rules on the controversial motor tax.

Carn-based Ryan Stewart hailed as a ‘massive step in the right direction’ the Commission's ruling that it is ‘discriminatory tax treatment’ and ‘contrary to EU rules’ for Ireland to continue to charge a full rate of VRT to someone who rents or leases a vehicle already registered in another member state. It is understood that the latest landmark ruling will also allow residents in Inishowen to borrow vehicles from the North without being subject to VRT charges as long as the vehicle isn’t being used on a permanent basis in the Republic. “We’ll take it apart piece by piece by removing out all the blocks from the bottom up until it collapses.

Ryan Stewart

With so many exemptions and reliefs, the tax will not be worth keeping and the government will be forced to do away with it. If someone now leases a car from the North they can’t be charged VRT,” said Mr Stewart. According to the European Commission, a Member State "may only levy a full registration tax on a leased or rented vehicle from another Member State if it is used or intended to be used on a permanent basis". (Inishowen Independent)

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