Written answers

Thursday, 13 March 2014

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Motor Tax Collection

Photo of Martin HeydonMartin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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155. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if any provisions are in place for those who fall into arrears on their motor tax, who wish to have their cars taken off the road to avoid further arrears building up but who cannot afford to clear the full arrears at the time; if part payment will be accepted or a schedule of payments put in place for those arrears to allow the car be taken off the road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12579/14]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 came into effect on 1 July 2013. The primary purpose of the Act is to replace the system whereby a vehicle was declared off the road retrospectively with a system under which the vehicle must be declared off the road in advance. The Act provided for a three month transition period from 1 July 2013 to 30 September 2013 to allow vehicle owners to bring their motor tax status up to date by making either or both a retrospective and prospective off-road declaration, as appropriate.

The new arrangements, which have been fully in force since 1 October 2013, provide that a declaration of non-use of a vehicle can be made at any time in the month before tax falls due, either via the local motor tax office or online. On change of ownership or on registration, an owner has ten days from the date of transfer of ownership or from the date of registration to make the declaration, which is free of charge. Where a declaration is not made within the required timeframe, a tax disc must be taken out, along with any arrears incurred by the vehicle owner.

There are no provisions whereby motorists can come to individual arrangements with a licensing authority for the payment of arrears and motor tax . Any change to the basis of payment for motor tax would be required to be underpinned by primary legislation and be made equally available to all motorists. It would also be administratively cumbersome and potentially have a negative impact on the flow of income to the Local Government Fund and consequently on allocations to local authorities from the Fund. I have no plans currently to introduce such a change.

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