Finance Act 1992 section 132

Charge of excise duty

Section 132 establishes vehicle registration tax (VRT) as an excise duty payable when a vehicle is registered or a conversion declaration is made, and sets out the applicable rates based on vehicle category and emissions.

• VRT is charged on the registration of a vehicle or on a declaration relating to a converted vehicle, and becomes due at the time of registration or declaration
• For Category A vehicles (typically passenger cars), VRT is calculated in two parts: a CO2 emissions component based on a sliding scale from 7% to 41% of the vehicle's value, plus a NOx emissions surcharge of €5 to €25 per mg/km (subject to caps of €4,850 for diesel and €600 for other vehicles)
• Category B vehicles are charged at 13.3% of value (minimum €125), Category C vehicles and certain N1 vehicles at €200, Category D vehicles at nil, and motor-cycles based on engine cubic capacity with age-related reductions
• A late registration surcharge of 0.1% per day applies where the Revenue Commissioners believe a vehicle was not registered within the required timeframe, and where a previously exempt vehicle changes use, VRT becomes payable at that point

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