Value Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010 section 9

Intra-Community acquisitions and accountable persons

Section 9 sets out the rules under which persons making intra-Community acquisitions of goods become accountable for VAT, including the €41,000 threshold, exceptions for excise goods and new means of transport, and ring-fencing provisions for farmers, fishermen and racehorse trainers.

• A person making intra-Community acquisitions of goods in the State in the course of business is an accountable person and must register for and pay VAT once acquisitions exceed €41,000 in any continuous 12-month period.
• The €41,000 threshold does not apply to acquisitions of new means of transport or goods subject to excise duty; persons below the threshold may elect to register voluntarily, but exempt persons who do so gain no VAT deduction rights.
• Farmers, fishermen and racehorse trainers who become accountable solely because of intra-Community acquisitions or supplies from non-established suppliers may ring-fence their registration to those acquisitions and certain reverse-charge services, thereby retaining their flat-rate status.
• Any person benefiting from the ring-fence provision may elect to disapply it and instead register in respect of all supplies.