Ireland VAT rate 2026: 23% standard rate
Ireland's standard VAT rate is 23 percent, with reduced rates at 13.5, 9, and 4.8 percent. The rate values have not changed recently, but the categories under the 9 percent rate shifted substantially on 1 July 2026, when restaurant, catering, and hot-takeaway food service and hairdressing moved down from 13.5 percent, while hotel and guest accommodation deliberately stayed at 13.5 percent, splitting Ireland's hospitality sector across two different rates.
Ireland VAT rates
| Rate | Type | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| 23% | Standard | Default rate for goods and services not listed elsewhere, including alcohol, soft drinks, and bottled water even when sold as part of a restaurant service. |
| 13.5% | Reduced | Hotel and guest accommodation, general repair and maintenance services, and certain fuels like coal and heating oil. |
| 9% | Reduced | Restaurant, catering, and hot takeaway food services and hairdressing, moved down from 13.5 percent on 1 July 2026, plus periodicals and non-profit sports facility admission. |
| 4.8% | Reduced | Livestock, specifically live cattle, sheep, pigs, and horses. |
Rates served live from the Avatcado API, last updated March 19, 2026.
Check a Ireland VAT number
Businesses charging Ireland VAT must hold an active Ireland VAT registration. Check any Ireland VAT number for free below.
Enter a VAT number to see the live API response
Get Ireland VAT rates via API
The same rates as an API call:
curl "https://api.avatcado.com/v1/rates/IE" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer avat_live_your_api_key"{
"data": {
"country_code": "IE",
"country_name": "Ireland",
"currency": "EUR",
"standard_rate": 23,
"other_rates": [
{
"rate": 13.5,
"type": "reduced"
},
{
"rate": 9,
"type": "reduced"
},
{
"rate": 4.8,
"type": "reduced"
}
],
"updated_at": "2026-08-13T00:00:00.000Z"
},
"meta": {
"request_id": "req_..."
}
}Frequently asked questions
Are Irish restaurants and hotels taxed at the same VAT rate?
No, not since 1 July 2026. Restaurant, catering, and hot takeaway food and hairdressing moved to the 9 percent rate, while hotel and guest accommodation deliberately stayed at 13.5 percent, so the phrase hospitality rate is now ambiguous in Irish VAT terms.
What are the VAT registration thresholds in Ireland?
Since 1 January 2025 the principal thresholds are EUR 42,500 for services-only businesses and EUR 85,000 where goods make up most of turnover, tested on a rolling 12-month basis rather than calendar year.
VAT number formats
Related guides
- How to Validate EU VAT Numbers Programmatically
- How to Handle VAT Validation in Your SaaS Billing Flow
Free tier includes 500 validations per month, and VAT rates lookups are always free and unlimited. Get an API key or read the API documentation.
Sources
- Second reduced rate of VAT Revenue (Irish Tax and Customs), accessed August 13, 2026
- Government marks reduction of VAT rate to 9% for food businesses and hairdressers Government of Ireland, accessed August 13, 2026