Final tax reminder???????

[CuriousIslander]

I have today received a final reminder to tax my MG5, which was due on August 1st (albeit at zero cost). However, I did not receive an earlier reminder letter to say it was due, which I have always had in the past. My wife has also received a final demand for taxing her ICE car, having not had an earlier reminder letter that we have always had in the past.

I phoned the number on the letter and got it sorted via the automated system, but I am a little concerned that had the police stopped me in the last few days my car would not have been taxed, and in theory they could have impounded it.

Has anyone else had a similar issue???

 

[Alan]

My neighbour's car (not an EV) was clamped the other day as it was not taxed, he also had not had the reminder!

 

[Alb]

I received a reminder for the MG5 back in May. The other car is done on a DD so it can't be missed.

 

[Robf]

Never understood the logic about sending out reminders and requiring confirmation each year for a 0 car. I know its going to change, but they already know its £0.

 

[Gadget Geek]

Never understood the logic about sending out reminders and requiring confirmation each year for a 0 car. I know its going to change, but they already know its £0.

It's probably for the ANPR cameras the police use so they don't have to keep stopping you to check you are taxed.

 

[Lovemyev]

I don’t think ( as of yet ) the system is smart enough to distinguish between ICE / EV’s.
Just easier to blanket every car with an automated reminder.
Even if the duty is zero, the reminder states that you still need to renew as normal.
When you renew your VED ( road tax) online, there is the facility to request renewal confirmation by SMS / E.Mail or even both.
This is a pretty instance reply / response and confirms that the duty has been duly paid.
Of course it is simple way to check if your VED is valid by a rechecking via your registration plate in the U.K.

Check if a vehicle is taxed

Check and report if a vehicle has up-to-date vehicle tax or is 'off road' (SORN)

www.gov.uk

 

[Robf]

It's probably for the ANPR cameras the police use so they don't have to keep stopping you to check you are taxed.

I don’t think ( as of yet ) the system is smart enough to distinguish between ICE / EV’s.
Just easier to blanket every car with an automated reminder.
Even if the duty is zero, the reminder states that you still need to renew as normal.
When you renew your VED ( road tax) online, there is the facility to request renewal confirmation by SMS / E.Mail or even both.
This is a pretty instance reply / response and confirms that the duty has been duly paid.
Of course it is simple way to check if your VED is valid by a rechecking via your registration plate in the U.K.

https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax[/

Dont send out reminders or requirement to be taxed to £0 cars, its not rocket science? Police use the DVLA database.

 

[tsedge]

It is a silly system.

 

[Lovemyev]

Just like so many other broken systems that we have unfortunately .

 

[Lovemyev]

Here is a good article on this very subject, it clearly out lines the waste of money spent on reminders and the DLVA’s responce to why they are bound by legislation to keep sending out these reminders.
It also points out that in 2025 EV’s will subject to VED duty also, so reminders will have to be issued anyway.
Don’t remind me .

DVLA 'wasting hundreds of thousands' sending tax letters to EV owners

While battery electric vehicles are exempt from taxation due to their zero-emission status, owners still receive letters and are made to login to the government site to register the tac on their cars.

www.thisismoney.co.uk

 

[Robf]

What a steaming pile of cr*p. Automatically licence all £0 cars until scrapped or taken abroad. Requirement removed/met.

 

[tsedge]

Here is a good article on this very subject, it clearly out lines the waste of money spent on reminders and the DLVA’s responce to why they are bound by legislation to keep sending out these reminders.
It also points out that in 2025 EV’s will subject to VED duty also, so reminders will have to be issued anyway.
Don’t remind me .

DVLA 'wasting hundreds of thousands' sending tax letters to EV owners

While battery electric vehicles are exempt from taxation due to their zero-emission status, owners still receive letters and are made to login to the government site to register the tac on their cars.

www.thisismoney.co.uk

It would be better to abolish VED for EVs and just put a small levy on public charging instead. Administration should be far simpler (handful of charger suppliers instead of millions of owners).

 

[Gadget Geek]

It would be better to abolish VED for EVs and just put a small levy on public charging instead. Administration should be far simpler (handful of charger suppliers instead of millions of owners).

A large number of people charge at home. Not sure how the government will get their pound of flesh that way.

 

[tsedge]

A large number of people charge at home. Not sure how the government will get their pound of flesh that way.

They shouldn't - levying public rapid charging should be enough. If you don't use it because you charge at home, you are reducing the investment needed in public infrastructure.

 

[Robf]

They shouldn't - levying public rapid charging should be enough. If you don't use it because you charge at home, you are reducing the investment needed in public infrastructure.

And largely using the excess green electricity at night..... They should be paying us

 

[Lovemyev]

The subject of paying for VED has gone on for donkeys years !.
It’s been done to death tbh.
To avoid evasion of paying, many people suggested dropping the VED charge and increase the duty in fuel ( pre EV days ) instead, this appeared a fairer system.
If you had a car and only did a small annual mileage, then paying less which sounds a fairer system ?.
Heavy users of the roads therefore pay more.
Nobody could then evade paying, if there bought fuel, then they were paying !.
Why did idea not take off ?.
Simple, the government wanted the duty on the road tax AND the duty on the petrol ️ !.

 

[Gadget Geek]

The Centre for Policy Studies are already looking into this;

Pay-as-you-drive tax proposal for electric vehicles to plug Treasury shortfall

Think tank says Government should replace VED and fuel duty with a 'pay-as-you-drive' tax for electric vehicles to build "better and fairer" system.

www.fleetnews.co.uk

 

[5teep]

Couple of Scottish politicians have been caught out in exactly the same way recently. No initial reminder to renew.

 

[tsedge]

Reminds me of lockdown when a ton of people I knew had expired driving licenses and/or passports and not realised it.

 

[DBedford]

Broken system or not, it’s our responsibility to ensure our vehicles are taxed independent of the cost. Reminders are just that, and shouldn’t be relied upon.