Farmers looking to tax their quad must do so as a general haulage tractor, with a tax of €333 per annum applying, or as a private vehicle and taxed based on the cc of the engine, according to the IFA.

In its pre-budget submission it has set out its proposals to remove the difficulties surrounding the taxation of farm quads.

The current interpretation of the EU directives on road safety standards has resulted in a situation whereby it is effectively impossible to register and tax farm quads for limited use on public roads.

The IFA says the current tax situation is completely a disproportionate level of tax for a small utility vehicle whose main purpose on any farm is as an off road vehicle.

In addition, it says many quads cannot be registered and taxed for use on public roads, as they are not deemed to meet road safety standards.

IFA proposals

The IFA is proposing a system similar to that which operates in the UK:

  • Quads should be registered as light agricultural vehicles, with a ‘nil value’ tasc disc, whereby the quad can be used on the road, where a very small distance is travelled between sites.
  • Farms in Ireland are very fragmented, and therefore limited road use is required for these vehicles.
  • In addition, farm quads, which are used primarily as off-road vehicles, should be categorised as Category T Vehicles (e.g weeled tractors), thereby removing the requirement for an EC certificate of conformity of registration.
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