VAT calculator for Dublin businesses
Updated: July 2026
VAT rates are national, so a Dublin café charges the same 9% on a toastie as one in Cork. What is different in Dublin is the mix. The city is dense with exactly the trades the rates map touches: hospitality on every corner, salons, builders, and thousands of small retailers and contractors invoicing each other daily. This page pairs the VAT calculator with the situations Dublin businesses actually meet.
The rates a Dublin trader meets in a day
| Sale | Rate |
|---|---|
| Flat white and a sandwich in a Drumcondra café | 9% since 1 July 2026 |
| The bottle of wine with dinner in Ranelagh | 23% |
| A hotel room near the Convention Centre | 13.5% |
| A haircut on Camden Street | 9% since 1 July 2026 |
| Laptop from a Henry Street retailer | 23% |
| Children's shoes in Liffey Valley | 0% |
| Kitchen fit-out by a contractor | 13.5% |
Two worked Dublin examples
The café. A Smithfield café sells a lunch deal at €12.90 gross. At 9% the net is €11.83 and the VAT €1.07. Before July 2026 the same gross price at 13.5% meant €1.53 of VAT, so the rate change is worth about €0.46 per deal. Multiply by a few hundred covers a week and it is real money; the July 2026 change page has the full checklist.
The contractor. A fit-out contractor quotes €8,000 net for a shop unit off Capel Street. Construction services carry 13.5%, so the invoice shows €1,080 of VAT and €9,080 gross. If the job is subcontracted under RCT, the reverse charge applies instead and the principal accounts for the VAT.
Registered or not?
Dublin rents push turnover thresholds closer than owners expect. Once your rolling 12-month turnover passes €42,500 for services or €85,000 for goods, registration is mandatory, and Dublin's Local Enterprise Offices and the Dublin Chamber both run clinics that cover the basics for first-time registrants.
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Common questions
Is VAT different in Dublin than the rest of Ireland?
No. VAT rates are set nationally, so Dublin businesses charge the same 23%, 13.5%, 9%, 4.8% and 0% rates as everywhere else in Ireland. What differs is the trade mix: hospitality, services and construction are concentrated in the city.
What VAT rate does a Dublin cafe charge?
Since 1 July 2026, food and non-alcoholic drinks served in cafes and restaurants carry 9% VAT. Alcohol, soft drinks and bottled water on the same bill stay at 23%.