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Never declared car off road - being charged huge amount backtax. Can I do anything?

  • 03-11-2017 03:24AM
    #1
    Jeebus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 649 ✭✭✭


    Hi,

    Earlier in the year I had to hastily leave the country to care for a sick relative in Aus.

    I left in quite a hurry, and so never even thought to declare my car off the road. As such I have accumulated 7/8 months unpaid motor tax.

    I canceled my insurance for this period, and have just gotten it reinstated, but I have just found out that I now need to pay 7/8 months back-tax + a 3 month penalty to get my motor tax back in date? I was under the impression I could take it to a garda station and have them sign a form, but that appears to no longer be the case...

    Is there anything I can do here? I am kind of gutted that I am going to be ~400€ out of pocket for not ticking a box online a few months ago when my head wasnt in the right place ! It seems a tad unfair to be charged money for leaving a car parked!!

    Can anyone offer any advice?

    Thanks very much :)


«13

Comments

  • #2
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,759 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    Sell it to a relative or good friend including transfer of ownership. End of back tax. Buy it back later.

    That's it in a nutshell.

    Search the Motors forum - lots of detail there.

    Not your ornery onager



  • #3
    HonalD
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,288 ✭✭✭HonalD


    Jeebus wrote: »
    Is there anything I can do here? I am kind of gutted that I am going to be ~400€ out of pocket for not ticking a box online a few months ago when my head wasnt in the right place ! It seems a tad unfair to be charged money for leaving a car parked!!

    Yes you can dodge paying a legitimate tax and at the same time complain that the current legislation is unfair. Or you can take responsibility for your actions and pay.
    Thankfully for you, it's a free society so the choice is yours.


  • #4
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 75,480 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    Esel wrote: »
    Sell it to a relative or good friend including transfer of ownership. End of back tax. Buy it back later.

    That's it in a nutshell.

    Search the Motors forum - lots of detail there.

    Adding 2 extra owners in the process, possibly devaluing the car more than the tax cost. Do it a few times and you've got an unsaleable lump.


  • #5
    Grayditch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,347 ✭✭✭✭Grayditch


    HonalD wrote: »
    Yes you can dodge paying a legitimate tax and at the same time complain that the current legislation is unfair. Or you can take responsibility for your actions and pay.
    Thankfully for you, it's a free society so the choice is yours.

    Jaysus.


  • #6
    Jeebus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 649 ✭✭✭Jeebus


    Esel wrote: »
    Sell it to a relative or good friend including transfer of ownership. End of back tax. Buy it back later.

    That's it in a nutshell.

    Search the Motors forum - lots of detail there.

    I was hoping to avoid this, but thank you very much for your legitimate and helpful reply :)
    L1011 wrote: »
    Adding 2 extra owners in the process, possibly devaluing the car more than the tax cost. Do it a few times and you've got an unsaleable lump.

    She's already an unsaleable lump! :D I just got off the phone with the tax office and it's sorted give my circumstances - dying relative and hasty exit of the country.
    Grayditch wrote: »
    Jaysus.

    I know, hard to stomach these types of people isn't it? All we can do is be thankful that we don't have to live out the rest of our lives with an outlook as grim as this man ! His post honestly made me feel really thankful that the majority of people surrounding me in life are poles apart from this nonsensical, inane half-wit :).

    The worst we have to suffer is him occasionally giving his unwanted, uneducated opinion in threads like this - or I'd wager when he goes around canvassing pre-election (seems like the type).

    He has to live with his bleak, sad, holier-than-thou attitude, and a puerile, witless voice inside of his head, for the rest of his life.

    We get to stop hearing it right now.
    HonalD wrote: »
    Yes you can dodge paying a legitimate tax and at the same time complain that the current legislation is unfair. Or you can take responsibility for your actions and pay.
    Thankfully for you, it's a free society so the choice is yours.

    Your reply is not in the least bit helpful, Donal. It's extremely rude, condescending and doesn't actually answer my question at all. Are you a politician, a troll, or both? :DI'm not sure a tax is legitimate if you don't use a car, because you leave a country (and your car) to care for a dying relative - but I suppose you don't care about the facts since you're only here to troll.

    You would do better in life to change your attitude, because you'll blink and very quickly find you've wasted all your days if you continue on with this dreary outlook :).




    Thanks everyone else for the help, I've called the motor tax office and explained my situation. They let me off the bill because they have a bit of compassion for somebody who left the country for a dying relative - unlike the deluded poster above :D .


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  • #7
    schemingbohemia
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,606 ✭✭✭schemingbohemia


    So you weren't in Australia?

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=103006008


  • #8
    Jeebus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 649 ✭✭✭Jeebus


    schemingbohemia wrote: »
    So you weren't in Australia?

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=103006008

    Yes, I was. As I mentioned in my thread, I went there to care for a sick relative.


  • #9
    amcalester
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,097 ✭✭✭amcalester


    schemingbohemia wrote: »
    So you weren't in Australia?

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=103006008

    Brilliant.


  • #10
    Rubberchikken
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,303 ✭✭✭Rubberchikken


    I think HonalD had a point.
    Also Op remembered the insurance. Why not the tax too?
    And then when confronted with arrears wants to find out how to not pay.


  • #11
    Van.Bosch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,043 ✭✭✭Van.Bosch


    schemingbohemia wrote: »
    So you weren't in Australia?

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=103006008

    Bravo - pity the motor tax office weren’t as smart.


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  • #12
    Jeebus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 649 ✭✭✭Jeebus


    Rubberchikken wrote: »
    I think HonalD had a point.
    Also Op remembered the insurance. Why not the tax too?
    And then when confronted with arrears wants to find out how to not pay.

    Because there was an earlier system where you could simply show a guard proof that you had left the country and it would be enough to prove your car was off the road - which it was.

    The car was unused, on private property, for the duration of my time away - so it seems fair to me that I shouldn't need to pay this tax.

    At any rate, it is sorted now.


  • #13
    Jeebus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 649 ✭✭✭Jeebus


    Van.Bosch wrote: »
    Bravo - pity the motor tax office weren’t as smart.

    Not sure what the witch-hunt is here - I mention in all of my posts that this is why I left the country?


  • #14
    jack presley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,687 ✭✭✭✭jack presley


    Jeebus wrote: »
    Not sure what the witch-hunt is here - I mention in all of my posts that this is why I left the country?

    You said in your original post you went to the US not Australia.


  • #15
    Jeebus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 649 ✭✭✭Jeebus


    jack presley wrote: »
    You said in your original post you went to the US not Australia.

    Ah, cheers for pointing this out. It has been edited, currently planning a trip there so my mind was in two places.


  • #16
    3putt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 202 ✭✭3putt


    lol Caught by the bo**ox .


  • #17
    realdanbreen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,171 ✭✭✭realdanbreen


    jack presley wrote: »
    You said in your original post you went to the US not Australia.
    :D


  • #18
    jimmycrackcorm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,371 ✭✭✭✭jimmycrackcorm


    Jeebus wrote:
    Because there was an earlier system where you could simply show a guard proof that you had left the country and it would be enough to prove your car was off the road - which it was.

    There was no system like that. There was one where you could about teaching your car very easily and simply go into any Garda station and ask the Garda on duty to sign your off road form.

    They had to change the system to accommodate the need for Gardai to register breathalyser checks.


  • #19
    jack presley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,687 ✭✭✭✭jack presley


    3putt wrote: »
    lol Caught by the bo**ox .

    Yep. Aussie trip doesn’t sound like it was hastily planned to go visit a relative.


  • #20
    Del2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,148 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    jimmycrackcorm wrote: »
    There was no system like that. There was one where you could about teaching your car very easily and simply go into any Garda station and ask the Garda on duty to sign your off road form.

    They had to change the system to accommodate the need for Gardai to register breathalyser checks.

    Not correct. All the Garda was doing was witnessing your signature on a statutory declaration that you hadn't used the vehicle. The outright abuse of the system was why they went for a pre declaration.


  • #21
    elperello
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 19,330 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    What I have learned from this thread is that there is some unofficial system whereby you make a case to the tax office and they write off arrears.
    The folks over on Motors who are experts in this type of stuff are convinced that the "sell to a relative" loophole is the way to go.

    OP did the tax office ask for any back up documentation or just take your word?


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  • #22
    Ginger83
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,643 ✭✭✭Ginger83


    What i learned here...

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=103006008

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=103586100

    :rolleyes:


  • #23
    punisher5112
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,519 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    Its because people abuse it like the op it will be stopped for genuine cases.

    Op you have been caught out so stop digging an even bigger hole.

    You asked 8 months ago about getting a visa to travel no mention of sick relatives.

    You forgot to sort tax but your plan has worked.


  • #24
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 55,565 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    Jeebus wrote: »
    I was hoping to avoid this, but thank you very much for your legitimate and helpful reply :)

    She's already an unsaleable lump! :D I just got off the phone with the tax office and it's sorted give my circumstances - dying relative and hasty exit of the country.

    I know, hard to stomach these types of people isn't it? All we can do is be thankful that we don't have to live out the rest of our lives with an outlook as grim as this man ! His post honestly made me feel really thankful that the majority of people surrounding me in life are poles apart from this nonsensical, inane half-wit :).

    The worst we have to suffer is him occasionally giving his unwanted, uneducated opinion in threads like this - or I'd wager when he goes around canvassing pre-election (seems like the type).

    He has to live with his bleak, sad, holier-than-thou attitude, and a puerile, witless voice inside of his head, for the rest of his life.

    We get to stop hearing it right now.

    Your reply is not in the least bit helpful, Donal. It's extremely rude, condescending and doesn't actually answer my question at all. Are you a politician, a troll, or both? :DI'm not sure a tax is legitimate if you don't use a car, because you leave a country (and your car) to care for a dying relative - but I suppose you don't care about the facts since you're only here to troll.

    You would do better in life to change your attitude, because you'll blink and very quickly find you've wasted all your days if you continue on with this dreary outlook :).

    Thanks everyone else for the help, I've called the motor tax office and explained my situation. They let me off the bill because they have a bit of compassion for somebody who left the country for a dying relative - unlike the deluded poster above :D .
    there was a whiff of 'methinks the lady doth protesteth too much' off this post.


  • #25
    jcd5971
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,546 ✭✭✭jcd5971


    I felt sorry for the op

    But what an ass hole, to lie about a dying relative just to get out of a bit of tax..

    I hope someone forwards all this to the guards and they go after you for fraud, a despicable thing to do.


  • #26
    Greybottle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 966 ✭✭✭Greybottle


    Jeebus wrote: »
    Your reply is not in the least bit helpful, Donal. It's extremely rude, condescending and doesn't actually answer my question at all. Are you a politician, a troll, or both? :D

    You would do better in life to change your attitude, because you'll blink and very quickly find you've wasted all your days if you continue on with this dreary outlook :).


    The irony is very strong here.


  • #27
    HonalD
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,288 ✭✭✭HonalD


    Greybottle wrote: »
    Jeebus wrote: »
    Your reply is not in the least bit helpful, Donal. It's extremely rude, condescending and doesn't actually answer my question at all. Are you a politician, a troll, or both? :D

    You would do better in life to change your attitude, because you'll blink and very quickly find you've wasted all your days if you continue on with this dreary outlook :).

    The irony is very strong here.

    It’s not lost on me, glad I refrained from wasting my time defending my post.


  • #28
    Ginger83
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,643 ✭✭✭Ginger83


    jcd5971 wrote: »
    I felt sorry for the op

    But what an ass hole, to lie about a dying relative just to get out of a bit of tax..

    I hope someone forwards all this to the guards and they go after you for fraud, a despicable thing to do.

    Is it possible to forward this to motor tax office? However we dont have OP's details.

    Any mod advice?


  • #29
    ForestFire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,283 ✭✭✭ForestFire


    Ginger83 wrote: »
    Is it possible to forward this to motor tax office? However we dont have OP's details.

    Any mod advice?

    Seriously?

    The first reply was suggesting another way to avoid this payment, and is featured regularily on boards.

    So he used a different method, but is it not clear at least , that he was not using the car on Irish roads during the time?

    He should have just sold car to relative :-)


  • #30
    elperello
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 19,330 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    ForestFire wrote: »
    Seriously?

    The first reply was suggesting another way to avoid this payment, and is featured regularily on boards.

    So he used a different method, but is it not clear at least , that he was not using the car on Irish roads during the time?

    He should have just sold car to relative :-)

    Yes the non-controversial loophole!
    We'll never know the details of the other one because they've scared him away:)


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  • #31
    Ginger83
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,643 ✭✭✭Ginger83


    ForestFire wrote: »
    Seriously?

    The first reply was suggesting another way to avoid this payment, and is featured regularily on boards.

    So he used a different method, but is it not clear at least , that he was not using the car on Irish roads during the time?

    He should have just sold car to relative :-)

    Fraud is still fraud.


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