Bought a car - motor tax arrears?

Edgarfrndly

Hi there,

I've just purchased a car on the 30th of September. I'm trying to tax it, but it says I owe arrears of 51 euro. Does this make sense?

Arrears are due as follows:
Arrears Period: 01/09/2015 - 30/09/2015
Arrears Amount: EUR 51

Why am I being charged tax for 2 days equating to 51 euro? I mean, it's not as if I can even tax it in that time anyways - as I needed to put insurance on the car which took 2 days.

Can anyone explain what the deal is here?

ohnonotgmail

When you buy a car the motor tax is due from the first day of the month you bought the car in. so if you buy a car on September 30th you owe tax from September 1st.

MojoMaker

Newbie mistake, never sign for a car close to the end of the month unless you like shelling out for tax for that month. Personally I make my cut off the 15th, after that I defer the log book signature until the next month if not the purchase outright.

bmwguy

I can confirm the 2 above posters are correct if you had waited a day you would not be liable for September. Lesson learned I suppose, always buy early month to avoid this. But 50 quid in the grand scheme of things is not a costly mistake to make

Atlantic Dawn

Did somone post something here a while back that there was 5/7 days grace that you could postpone it?

colm_mcm

You can declare the car off the road, then tax it in the tax office once it goes through.

fancy pigeon

colm_mcm wrote: »

You can declare the car off the road, then tax it in the tax office once it goes through.

Just to add, you have 10 days from purchase to do this otherwise arrears

Form rf150a

slimjimmc

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Did somone post something here a while back that there was 5/7 days grace that you could postpone it?

I've renewed my motor tax in the tax office and was not charged arrears even though I was a few days past the arrears deadline.
For example. Tax expired 31st May and taxed for 6 months on 3rd July so expecting arrears for June. However I was given the option to tax for 6 months from 1st June without arrears. It may be a discretionary administrative procedure in some offices, I taxed in the same week as the last day of June.

mgbgt1978

While you weren't technically charged 'arrears', you were still charged for June though.....so they didn't lose out anyway .

Skatedude

colm_mcm wrote: »

You can declare the car off the road, then tax it in the tax office once it goes through.

Only if the car is currently taxed, if it's not currently taxed, then you have to tax it before declaring it off the road, They closed that loop hole a few years ago.

mgbgt1978

I don't think so.....from any Local council's Website:


I've just bought a vehicle - how can I make a declaration that I intend to keep it off the road for a while?

If you have just bought a new vehicle or just acquired a second hand one and do not intend to use it immediately, you will have ten days from the date of purchase (as specified in the registration document or the notification of transfer of vehicle ownership) to furnish a declaration of non-use. In that case, the declaration will commence from the first day of the month in which the sale takes place, or the first day of the month of registration in the case of new vehicles. Make sure you notify the seller that you are intending to declare the vehicle off the road and that you need him or her to ensure that the change of ownership is notified to the National Vehicle and Driver File as soon as possible.

Edgarfrndly

Ok thanks guys.