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If a car has been off the road, is tax due?

My daughter has a SsangYong Rexton she has not been using, but did not declare it off the road. There is no road tax on it for about two years. She would like to sell the car. Would she be liable for the tax?

Wendy Quirke (Cork)

Feb 2016 Filed under: taxation


Expert answer

Hi Wendy,

Um, I'm afraid you're into a bit of bother here. Since 2013 if a car is going to be taken off the road, you have to declare it in advance with a form available at all Garda stations. Failure to do so is quite a serious offence, and 'forgetting' won't be accepted as an excuse. 

Generally failing to display a tax disc comes with a €60 on the spot fine. Failure to make payment of road tax means you'll have to pay the back tax, plus a 10 per cent surcharge, plus the cost of another three months' tax on top. Furthermore, if it's decided that you deliberately failed to pay the tax on the car, you or your daughter could be liable for a €4,000 fine or even a custodial sentence. 

I hope you've got a good solicitor...

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Advisor
@neilmbriscoe


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