Over €6m raised in motor taxes
Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan.
€6,286,391 was raised in motor tax in county Longford in 2011, according to figures recently released by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.
2012 figures (to end of May) show that the €2,674,309 has been collected from the county’s drivers.
The figures come as the government has announced new measures to crack down on those refusing to pay motor tax by claiming their car is off the road.
New laws are to be drawn up banning the practice where people can declare their car was not in use for a period of months. The practice is thought to cost the taxpayer up to €55 million a year. Instead people will be able to ask gardaí to certify a car is going to be off the road for a period in the future.
“Currently, owners declare vehicles off the road for the purposes of motor tax after the fact, which is effectively unverifiable and open to abuse,” said Department Minister Phil Hogan in a statement to the Dail.
“I intend to provide that drivers will be able to declare their intention to keep their vehicle off-the-road in advance so that if a vehicle is not to be used on a public road for a number of months, the owner will be able to inform the relevant authorities before taking the car off the road rather than afterwards, and so avoid a liability for motor tax.
“The General Scheme of a Bill to tighten the procedures is at an advance stage of preparation in my department and I expect to bring it to Cabinet next month.”
Around the region, neighbouring counties collected the following motor tax revenues in 2011; Cavan €10,170516, Leitrim €4,859,321, Roscommon €10,177,855, and Westmeath €13,182,014.
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Wednesday 19 June 2013
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