Irish Revenue Announces Outcome Of VRT Evasion Crackdown

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

29 April 2009

The Revenue Commissioners have announced the results of the recent major national crackdown on Vehicle Registatration Tax (VRT) offences, which they carried out in late-March and early-April.

The number of vehicles challenged during this period was 3,256, of which 658 were found to be non-compliant, with 276 seized for non-payment of VRT due.

The amount of VRT at risk, in these cases, was EUR1.4m. Revenue has, to date, received payments of EUR350,000 and collected penalties of EUR118,300 in this regard.

These amounts do not include the VRT voluntarily paid at Vehicle Registration Offices (VROs) in the course of the operation. There have been reports of increases of VRT declarations at VROs.

Warnings were issued for the remaining 382 (13 in respect of illegal plates), to be regularised where immediate seizure was not warranted.
These provisional figures reflect the increased volume of vehicles being purchased in Northern Ireland.

During the operation which concentrated in border areas, Clones, Dundalk, Letterkenny as well as in Cork and Dublin, Custom officials received strong support from the Garda Síochana.

"We maintain a focus on VRT offences throughout the year but at regular intervals we undertake 'blitz' style operations which are high visibility" said Revenue Commissioner Liam Irwin. "The focus of this specific campaign is Irish residents illegally driving foreign registered cars. The rules are very clear and people who attempt to evade VRT will face the consequences", he warned.

During 2008 Revenue challenged 23,986 vehicles and 1,589 cars were seized for VRT offences.

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