Clearing motor tax arrears while living abroad?

ancuisle

Hi Guys, I've been out of the country since the end of 2012 and just returned to Ireland 3 weeks ago. During this period my car has been off the road and has accrued aprox. 3 years of back tax as the change in law re declaring a car off the road came in to effect the end of 2013. I would like to get my car back on the road but the back tax is aprox. 3x more than the car is worth. Is it possible to have this back tax waived if I can prove I have been out of the country and what would be the best way to go about this?
Failing this approach the other option would be to transfer the car to a friend/family member? Is it still possible to get back tax wiped this way and does the person who I transfer it to need to tax the car before transferring it back to me? Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks!

Atlantic Dawn

"Sell" the car to a family member and then "buy" back, tax wiped.

bazz26

Transfer ownership to a family member and then back to you again. Motor tax arrears disappear when ownership changes.

CiniO

I'm pretty sure there is an exemption for people who were away from the country when new regulations came in in 2013.

ancuisle

Ok, Thanks for the replies guys! I presume I can confirm at my local motor tax office what the procedure for getting the exemption is..it just seems strange that you can transfer it to a family member and back and get the tax wiped!

mgbgt1978

It's not aimed specifically at 'Family Members'.
It really concerns somebody who buys a car from a seller who hasn't taxed it for a while. There is no reason for the new owner to be liable for motor tax which the previous owner didn't pay.
It's also the way it has been for years and years. A new owner is only liable for Tax from the beginning of the month in which they purchased the car.
All that has changed is the ability to declare a car 'off the road' after the fact....now it must be done in advance.


Personally I wouldn't ask anything at my local tax office about an exemption. They either wouldn't know anything about it or else it would encourage them to ask too many questions. Just do the ownership transfer, it's the easier route.

ancuisle

Sound! Thanks!