Ireland VAT Rates 2026
Ireland (Éire / Ireland) levies Value Added Tax as VAT (Value-Added Tax). The standard rate is 23%, applied to most goods and services. Reduced rates of 13.5% and 9% apply to building and construction, fuel (solid, oil, gas), electricity, hotel accommodation, catering.
Current rates — 2026
| Type | Rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 23% | Most goods and services |
| Reduced | 13.5% | Building and construction, fuel (solid, oil, gas), electricity, hotel accommodation, catering |
| Reduced | 9% | Newspapers and books, cultural events, hairdressing services |
| Super-reduced | 4.8% | Livestock and horses (supply for agricultural production) |
| Parking | 13.5% | Transitional rate for specific goods (fuel, agricultural equipment) |
| Zero-rated | 0% | Most food, children's clothing and footwear, oral medicines, books |
Registration and filing
| Registration threshold | EUR 85,000€85,000 for goods / €42,500 for services (raised January 2025) |
| Tax authority | Office of the Revenue Commissioners |
| Filing frequency | Bi-monthly returns (every two months) by default |
Access rates via API
The TaxID API returns current VAT and GST rates for 200+ countries and territories. Use the /api/v1/rates/IE endpoint to get Ireland data programmatically. Responses are cached for 24 hours.
curl http://localhost:3000/api/v1/rates/IE
# No authentication required for rate lookups
# Response:
# { "country_code": "IE", "tax_type": "vat",
# "standard_rate": 23, "reduced_rates": [13.5, 9],
# "currency": "EUR", "last_updated": "2026-01-01" }Applying the correct rate in code
For B2B intra-EU sales, validate the customer's VAT number first. A valid registration means reverse charge applies — you charge 0% and the customer self-accounts. For B2C, charge the Ireland standard rate.
// 1. Validate the customer's Ireland VAT number
const vatCheck = await fetch(
'http://localhost:3000/api/v1/validate/IE/CUSTOMER_VAT',
{ headers: { Authorization: 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
).then(r => r.json());
// 2. Fetch current Ireland VAT rates (no auth required)
const rates = await fetch('http://localhost:3000/api/v1/rates/IE').then(r => r.json());
// → { standard_rate: 23, reduced_rates: [13.5, 9] }
// 3. Apply the correct VAT treatment
if (vatCheck.valid) {
// B2B intra-EU: reverse charge — you invoice 0%, customer self-accounts
applyRate(0, 'reverse_charge');
} else {
// B2C: charge the Ireland standard rate
applyRate(rates.standard_rate, 'standard');
}About Ireland VAT
Ireland retains one of the EU's broadest zero-rate baskets — most food, children's clothing, books and oral medicines are 0% under grandfathered pre-1991 rules that newer member states cannot replicate. The unusual 4.8% super-reduced rate applies solely to livestock. As the European base for many US tech firms, Ireland is disproportionately important in VIES B2B validation traffic, and its bi-monthly filing cycle is unique in the EU.
VAT in Ireland is administered by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. Ireland VAT registrations are validated through the EU VIES system — validate a customer's VAT number before applying any zero-rate or reverse-charge treatment.
Sources: European Commission — Taxes in Europe Database (TEDB) · Revenue — VAT rates (accessed Jun 2026)
Rate history
- 2012Standard rate raised from 21% to 23%
- 2020Temporary cut to 21% (September 2020 – February 2021)
Frequently asked questions
What is the VAT rate in Ireland in 2026?
23% standard, 13.5% (construction, fuel, catering), 9% (newspapers, hospitality), 4.8% (livestock) and an extensive 0% band.
What is zero-rated in Ireland?
Most food, children's clothing and footwear, oral medicines and books — a legacy basket preserved from before EU rate harmonisation.
Related concepts and guides: