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Tesla in Ireland: Budget 2027 extends EV VRT relief to December 31, 2028
Event date Budget day for Budget 2027, as dated on KPMG Ireland's headlines page. The extension still has to pass in the Finance Bill. IE
What happened
Ireland's Budget 2027, presented on October 6, 2026, says that "VRT relief for electric vehicles is extended to 31 December 2028" (KPMG Ireland's budget headlines). Before the budget, the relief was confirmed only to the end of 2026. A Tesla first registered in Ireland in 2027 or 2028 can still get VRT relief, so there is no need to force a December 2026 registration for that reason alone.
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What changed
Vehicle registration tax (VRT) is the one-off tax due when a car is first registered in Ireland. Electric cars get a relief on it. An April 2026 guide from odo.ie described that relief as "currently scheduled to continue to the end of 2026, subject to renewal in the Finance Act". That end date is what made December 2026 look like a deadline.
KPMG Ireland's summary of Budget 2027 carries one line on cars: VRT relief for electric vehicles is extended to December 31, 2028. KPMG reports no change to how much the relief is worth. The same summary notes a 1% rise in the VRT rate on certain higher-emission cars, which does not touch a battery-electric Tesla.
How the relief works, as described before the budget
| Open market selling price (OMSP) | VRT relief |
|---|---|
| Up to €40,000 | Full relief, up to €5,000 |
| €40,001 to €50,000 | Relief tapers down |
| Above €50,000 | No relief |
The test is the car's open market selling price, which Revenue sets, not the figure on your Tesla order. Before you rely on the top band, check your configured car's OMSP on Revenue's VRT calculator.
Who this affects
- Private buyers waiting on a 2027 delivery. The relief no longer ends on December 31, 2026, so a delivery that slips into January is not penalised on VRT.
- Company-car drivers. Benefit-in-kind is a separate rule. odo.ie described the EV reduction to the taxable value falling to a total of €15,000 in 2027, from €30,000 in 2026. KPMG's headlines say nothing new on it, so that taper still stands as far as we can see.
- Buyers counting on the SEAI grant. The grant is run by SEAI, not Revenue, and KPMG's summary does not mention it. Read the terms on SEAI's site on the day you order.
What has not changed
- It is a budget announcement. The extension becomes law through the Finance Bill later this year. Until then, treat the 2028 date as the government's stated plan.
- The referral benefit. Ireland showed 1,000 km of free Supercharging on Model 3 and 1,000 km of free Supercharging on Model Y, on our capture of Tesla's Ireland referral page dated July 12, 2026. It is distance on the Supercharger network, not money off the price, and the budget does not touch it.
- There is still no promo code for the car. Tax relief is applied by Revenue at registration. No code from Tesla or anyone else adds to it.
Government figures on this page come from the sources listed, on their dates. They are not on our country table, which shows only what Tesla's own referral page offers.
What to do
- Waiting on a Tesla delivery: VRT relief alone is no longer a reason to push for a December 2026 registration.
- Company car: ask your employer or payroll how the 2027 benefit-in-kind reduction applies to your car before you sign.
- Check the OMSP of the exact car you configure on Revenue's VRT calculator, then the SEAI grant terms on SEAI's site.
- Using a referral link: open it before you order. Tesla's terms say it cannot be added afterwards.
Sources
- Budget 2027 headlines KPMG Ireland, October 6, 2026
- EV grants Ireland (guide, April 2026) odo.ie, April 1, 2026