In short: Postponed Accounting for VAT (sometimes called PA4) lets VAT-registered Irish importers account for import VAT on their regular VAT return instead of paying it in cash at the point of entry. For a business importing regularly from China or Vietnam, this keeps VAT out of your cash flow entirely — you declare and reclaim it in the same return, rather than funding it upfront and waiting to claim it back. Most VAT-registered importers qualify automatically; the main thing to get right is how you report it to your customs agent and on your VAT3 return.

Last updated: November 12, 2026

What Is Postponed Accounting for VAT?

Postponed Accounting is an Irish Revenue mechanism, introduced as part of the post-Brexit trade changes, that allows VAT-registered businesses importing goods from outside the EU — including China and Vietnam — to account for import VAT through their periodic VAT return rather than paying it in cash to Revenue (via their customs agent) at the point the goods clear customs.

Without Postponed Accounting, import VAT is normally payable immediately when your shipment clears Irish customs, and you then reclaim it later as input VAT on your next VAT return — a gap that can run from a few weeks to a couple of months depending on your VAT filing period. With Postponed Accounting, that gap disappears: the VAT is simply declared and reclaimed (where you have full recovery rights) on the same return, with no cash changing hands at the border at all.

Who Can Use Postponed Accounting for China Imports?

Postponed Accounting is available to any business that is VAT-registered in Ireland and imports goods for use in their business, which covers the large majority of Irish companies sourcing products from China or Vietnam. There's no separate application required in most cases — your customs declaration (made by your freight forwarder or customs broker) simply flags the shipment for postponed accounting treatment, and your accountant includes the relevant figures on your next VAT3 return.

The main practical requirement is making sure your customs clearance agent knows you intend to use Postponed Accounting before the shipment is declared — it's a declaration-time setting, not something you can apply retroactively once goods have already cleared under standard VAT-at-the-border terms.

Postponed Accounting vs Paying VAT at the Border: A Worked Example

Here's how the cash-flow difference plays out on a typical shipment from China:

For a business bringing in regular container shipments from China, that €11,500 isn't a one-off — it's €11,500 tied up on every shipment, every cycle. Postponed Accounting is one of the simplest cash-flow improvements available to an Irish importer, and it costs nothing to use.

How Does Postponed Accounting Interact With Customs Clearance and EORI?

Postponed Accounting sits alongside, not instead of, your other import obligations. You still need a valid EORI number to import at all, and your shipment still goes through standard customs clearance from China to Ireland, including duty assessment and any product compliance checks. Postponed Accounting only changes how the VAT portion of that process is settled — duty, if payable, is generally still due at the point of clearance.

Do You Need to Tell Your Freight Forwarder or Customs Broker?

Yes — this is the one step importers most commonly miss. Postponed Accounting has to be flagged on the customs declaration itself, which means your freight forwarder or customs clearance agent needs clear instructions before the shipment arrives, not after. If you're setting up a new shipping or customs relationship, confirm Postponed Accounting is their default approach for your imports, since getting this wrong on a declaration generally can't be corrected after the fact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to apply for Postponed Accounting with Revenue?

No separate application is generally required for VAT-registered businesses — it's applied at the point of customs declaration by your clearance agent, and reported through your normal VAT return process.

Does Postponed Accounting change how much VAT I owe?

No. It changes when and how VAT is paid and reclaimed, not the amount. If you have full VAT recovery rights, the net effect across a VAT period is VAT-neutral with no cash outlay.

Can I use Postponed Accounting for goods from Vietnam as well as China?

Yes — Postponed Accounting applies to imports from any country outside the EU, so it covers Vietnam-sourced goods on exactly the same basis as China-sourced goods.

What happens if my customs agent doesn't use Postponed Accounting by default?

You'll be charged import VAT in cash at clearance instead, which you then reclaim on your next return as normal — it isn't a penalty, but it ties up cash unnecessarily. Confirm your agent's default approach before your next shipment.

Does Postponed Accounting affect import duty too?

No — Postponed Accounting applies specifically to import VAT. Customs duty, where applicable on your HS code, is still assessed and generally payable at the point of clearance in the normal way.

How Epic Sourcing Helps

Epic Sourcing's bilingual teams on the ground in China and Vietnam manage production, quality control, and freight consolidation so your shipments arrive ready for clean, efficient customs clearance into Ireland — and we work alongside your freight forwarder or customs agent to make sure the practical details, like Postponed Accounting, aren't missed. We support importers across Ireland, the USA, Singapore and the wider SEA region, South Africa, and the UAE. Get in touch for a no-pressure, no-obligation chat about your next shipment.

Related reading: How to pay a Chinese supplier from Ireland · Shipping from China to Ireland: costs and transit times · End-to-end sourcing services