Menu
27/03/2003
NI car tax evaders cost public purse £13m
Northern Ireland vehicle tax evaders cost the Treasury around £13 million last year, according to the latest findings.
A DoE survey found that just over 10% of all vehicles on Northern Ireland's roads were not properly taxed.
The Chief Executive of the Driver Vehicle Licensing (NI), Brendan Magee, voiced his "disappointment" at the figures, but said that increased demand on resources and fewer offences being reported to police had contributed to the surge in tax evasion.
"In terms of road safety there is a clear link between tax evasion and driving uninsured or without a valid vehicle test certificate," he said.
"In one recent exercise we found that 75% of vehicles stopped for having no road tax were also uninsured."
However, Mr Magee said that there had been successes including the use of cameras which uncovered 6,900 offences. He added that the Statutory off the Road Notification (SORN), which was started last December, would also go some way to tackling the problem.
Last year 15,966 car owners were prosecuted or their vehicles auctioned for failing to pay Vehicle Excise Duty, and £2.1 million was collected in penalties, back duty and fines.
Elsewhere, the Northern Ireland Road and Rail Transport Statistics Quarterly Bulletin has found that the number of new cars registered in the last quarter of last year has dipped by 19% on 2001's figure.
There were 10,692 new cars registered during the quarter, almost a 19% decrease on the number of new cars (13,146) registered during the corresponding quarter of 2001.
(GMcG)
A DoE survey found that just over 10% of all vehicles on Northern Ireland's roads were not properly taxed.
The Chief Executive of the Driver Vehicle Licensing (NI), Brendan Magee, voiced his "disappointment" at the figures, but said that increased demand on resources and fewer offences being reported to police had contributed to the surge in tax evasion.
"In terms of road safety there is a clear link between tax evasion and driving uninsured or without a valid vehicle test certificate," he said.
"In one recent exercise we found that 75% of vehicles stopped for having no road tax were also uninsured."
However, Mr Magee said that there had been successes including the use of cameras which uncovered 6,900 offences. He added that the Statutory off the Road Notification (SORN), which was started last December, would also go some way to tackling the problem.
Last year 15,966 car owners were prosecuted or their vehicles auctioned for failing to pay Vehicle Excise Duty, and £2.1 million was collected in penalties, back duty and fines.
Elsewhere, the Northern Ireland Road and Rail Transport Statistics Quarterly Bulletin has found that the number of new cars registered in the last quarter of last year has dipped by 19% on 2001's figure.
There were 10,692 new cars registered during the quarter, almost a 19% decrease on the number of new cars (13,146) registered during the corresponding quarter of 2001.
(GMcG)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
01 October 2004
Car tax dodgers appear in court
Seven people have been convicted and fined for evading the new car tax rules introduced in January this year. Fines totalling £8,000 were imposed under the new Continuous Registration rules in Belfast Magistrates’ Court earlier this month in relation to the offences which were committed in the first three months of the year.
Car tax dodgers appear in court
Seven people have been convicted and fined for evading the new car tax rules introduced in January this year. Fines totalling £8,000 were imposed under the new Continuous Registration rules in Belfast Magistrates’ Court earlier this month in relation to the offences which were committed in the first three months of the year.
24 October 2024
100 Days Left To File Your Self Assessment Tax Return
The clock is ticking for taxpayers who file Self Assessments. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding everyone that they have just 100 days left to submit their return and settle any tax owed before the January 31st deadline. For those who haven't started yet, HMRC offers a wealth of information and guidance on GOV.
100 Days Left To File Your Self Assessment Tax Return
The clock is ticking for taxpayers who file Self Assessments. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding everyone that they have just 100 days left to submit their return and settle any tax owed before the January 31st deadline. For those who haven't started yet, HMRC offers a wealth of information and guidance on GOV.
23 January 2024
HMRC Issues Self Assessment 31 January Deadline Reminder
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has urged the 3.8 million people yet to file their Self Assessment tax return are urged to "act now or risk facing a £100 penalty". HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is expecting more than 12.1 million tax returns to be filed for the 2022 to 2023 tax year along with any payment that is owed. To date more than 8.
HMRC Issues Self Assessment 31 January Deadline Reminder
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has urged the 3.8 million people yet to file their Self Assessment tax return are urged to "act now or risk facing a £100 penalty". HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is expecting more than 12.1 million tax returns to be filed for the 2022 to 2023 tax year along with any payment that is owed. To date more than 8.
11 June 2003
Government targets car tax evaders
Motorists throughout Northern Ireland who do not license their vehicles will be targeted in a new campaign to recover millions of pounds lost each year in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) evasion.
Government targets car tax evaders
Motorists throughout Northern Ireland who do not license their vehicles will be targeted in a new campaign to recover millions of pounds lost each year in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) evasion.
10 March 2004
Car tax evaders face £80 fine, says Minister
Motorists who fail to tax their car from this month onwards face an £80 fine, the Government warned today. From March, Driver Vehicle Licensing NI will issue the first notices to tax defaulters, NIO Minister Angela Smith confirmed today. "The message is simple and the choice is clear," the Minister said.
Car tax evaders face £80 fine, says Minister
Motorists who fail to tax their car from this month onwards face an £80 fine, the Government warned today. From March, Driver Vehicle Licensing NI will issue the first notices to tax defaulters, NIO Minister Angela Smith confirmed today. "The message is simple and the choice is clear," the Minister said.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A largely cloudy day with occasional rain. Turning drier and brighter for a time in the afternoon and feeling very mild. Light southerly winds becoming strong with gales later along the County Down coast. Maximum temperature 13 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, these heavy at times. Strong southerly winds, with gales in the evening across eastern counties, becoming westerly later. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
