British Vat proposal for protocol 'detrimental' to small firms in the Republic and the North

Small firms in Republic and North don't have the resources to handle an upheaval in Vat arrangements, and the proposal would ultimately harm North-South trade, accountants body said

The new British legislation proposes separate checks on goods at ports destined solely for Northern Ireland and goods destined for the single market in the Republic and also seeks changes to Vat arrangements.

Part of the British proposal to unilaterally change the Brexit agreement that involves Vat would damage small firms, north and south of the border, the head of public policy at the all-island body Chartered Accountants Ireland has warned. 

Director Brian Keegan said small firms in both the Republic and the North wouldn't have the resources to handle an upheaval in Vat arrangements, and the proposal would ultimately harm North-South trade.