Motor tax - back tax hell

LowOdour

I've run in to a real issue. I purchased a car last September. For the few months up until then, I borrowed an old banger car and put tax on it. What I didn't do (and its only dawned on me the last couple of weeks), was that I never declared it off the road once the tax ran out. Nobody was using it in that time. It was parked away from the house so was "out of sight, out of mind". So it hasn't been taxed in the last year. Someone now wants to take the car with them to do it up, and I want to transfer the log book to them but I take it I am royally screwed for back tax? I know previously you could change over the owner and the tax wasn't owed, but I take that is no longer the case. I am estimating the back tax at around 1k :-(

PirateShampoo

There is no back tax.

LowOdour

Sorry, terminology might be incorrect. I just presume I am liable for the last year's outstanding tax on the car

ianob7

You'll only pay back tax if you keep in your name and go to tax. New owner won't pay back tax and either will you when ownership is transferred

A Law

Once ownership is transferred the car will only have to be taxed from the new date of ownership. no need to worry

LowOdour

ianob7 wrote: »

You'll only pay back tax if you keep in your name and go to tax. New owner won't pay back tax and either will you when ownership is transferred

I always thought this was the case....but was this process not closed due to people exploiting it? Dont know why I though that tax was now liable

Sexual Chocolate

Once theres a change of ownership the back tax is written off.

A Law

The part where a guard signs that it's been "off the road" was done away with.

dodzy

LowOdour wrote: »

I always thought this was the case....but was this process not closed due to people exploiting it? Dont know why I though that tax was now liable

Yes, you are correct, but this does not apply in 'transfer of ownership' cases

LowOdour

dodzy wrote: »

LowOdour wrote: »

I always thought this was the case....but was this process not closed due to people exploiting it? Dont know why I though that tax was now liable

Yes, you are correct, but this does not apply in 'transfer of ownership' cases

Phew, I must have gotten something mixed up...panic will do that to a person! cheers folks

ezra_

I had something similar - had an old car that was off the road for a year and for some reason I had thought I had done the paperwork.

Turns out I hadn't, which I discovered when my parents wanted to take the car. However, at the change of ownership, the old tax was 'written off' and they just had to pick up the tax from change of ownership.

So you should be fine.