DVLA Tax refund confusion as 2 people paying tax
Discussion
Recently sold a car that still had 3 full months worth of tax on it.
Like a fool I expected a refund of the 3 full months. I accepted I would lose the week before the end of the month when car was actually sold.
However, the 3 months had turned into 2 months when the refund cheque came in the post today, as the V5 had not been processed until the 4th of the following month (August).
What bugs me is it is also wrong to the tune of £3.92
My questions are;
1-How can the the new owner tax the car, as it is 'legally' his responsibility, yet it remains I am accountable (literally and legally) for the tax into the next month, until someone processes the V5, bearing in mind the sale/transfer was a week before the end of the month?
2-How can you have 2 people legally accountable for the tax on a car, the new owner and the previous owner? How can I be accountable financially for a car I ceased to own 2 weeks ago?
3-Does anyone know if this 'practice' has been challenged legally?
4-I am not accountable for any speeding fines and/or offences after the date of sale/transfer, so why am I accountable for the tax?
The £3.92 will remain unchallenged at present, as it may end up costing me more to ask on the phone.
Curiously, the 'Acknowledgement' slip of paper is branded with a "Customer Service Excellence" logo near to the "Investors In People" logo.
Now I know that, I don't mind being ripped-off, though a break-down of how my refund was calculated would have been of more use to me.
I'll see if I can email them. Should be able to, as they are "Customer Service Excellence" accredited...
Thoughts most welcome!
Like a fool I expected a refund of the 3 full months. I accepted I would lose the week before the end of the month when car was actually sold.
However, the 3 months had turned into 2 months when the refund cheque came in the post today, as the V5 had not been processed until the 4th of the following month (August).
What bugs me is it is also wrong to the tune of £3.92
My questions are;
1-How can the the new owner tax the car, as it is 'legally' his responsibility, yet it remains I am accountable (literally and legally) for the tax into the next month, until someone processes the V5, bearing in mind the sale/transfer was a week before the end of the month?
2-How can you have 2 people legally accountable for the tax on a car, the new owner and the previous owner? How can I be accountable financially for a car I ceased to own 2 weeks ago?
3-Does anyone know if this 'practice' has been challenged legally?
4-I am not accountable for any speeding fines and/or offences after the date of sale/transfer, so why am I accountable for the tax?
The £3.92 will remain unchallenged at present, as it may end up costing me more to ask on the phone.
Curiously, the 'Acknowledgement' slip of paper is branded with a "Customer Service Excellence" logo near to the "Investors In People" logo.
Now I know that, I don't mind being ripped-off, though a break-down of how my refund was calculated would have been of more use to me.
I'll see if I can email them. Should be able to, as they are "Customer Service Excellence" accredited...
Thoughts most welcome!
Doesn't really answer your question but in future when you sell a car you can do the V5 transfer online using this link https://www.gov.uk/sold-bought-vehicle
That way it is instantly updated that you are no longer the keeper and no longer liable for the tax, plus you get an instant email receipt.
That way it is instantly updated that you are no longer the keeper and no longer liable for the tax, plus you get an instant email receipt.
BlimeyCharlie said:
Recently sold a car that still had 3 full months worth of tax on it.
Like a fool I expected a refund of the 3 full months. I accepted I would lose the week before the end of the month when car was actually sold.
However, the 3 months had turned into 2 months when the refund cheque came in the post today, as the V5 had not been processed until the 4th of the following month (August).
Never normally an issue - it's usually the date of transfer on the V5C that's taken as the relevant date.Like a fool I expected a refund of the 3 full months. I accepted I would lose the week before the end of the month when car was actually sold.
However, the 3 months had turned into 2 months when the refund cheque came in the post today, as the V5 had not been processed until the 4th of the following month (August).
Either an error was made at DVLA, the date was missing from the form, or the date was obviously wrong on the form. I know which I find least likely...
TooMany2cvs said:
BlimeyCharlie said:
Recently sold a car that still had 3 full months worth of tax on it.
Like a fool I expected a refund of the 3 full months. I accepted I would lose the week before the end of the month when car was actually sold.
However, the 3 months had turned into 2 months when the refund cheque came in the post today, as the V5 had not been processed until the 4th of the following month (August).
Never normally an issue - it's usually the date of transfer on the V5C that's taken as the relevant date.Like a fool I expected a refund of the 3 full months. I accepted I would lose the week before the end of the month when car was actually sold.
However, the 3 months had turned into 2 months when the refund cheque came in the post today, as the V5 had not been processed until the 4th of the following month (August).
Either an error was made at DVLA, the date was missing from the form, or the date was obviously wrong on the form. I know which I find least likely...
The date was clearly on the form, correctly filled in, using black pen. Took a photo of it too. Not framed it yet.
The 'new' owner taxed it (as well as being taxed by myself) before he drove it away. Cos' that is the 'legal' and therefore correct thing to do.
Sent the V5 away the next day, as per instructions on V5.
So on the DVLA 'system' there is 2 lots of tax paid for 'my' car for July. So why, and how, is it legal to then penalise me for August as well?
'My' V5 form sits on somebody's desk for 10 days at the DVLA and in that time the new owner is legally responsible for the car, I'm not, but I lose my month's tax?
Not seen it publicised that I can register for a refund online, bearing in mind you have to fill a form in still when selling a car?
Thieving c*nts.
The issue here is 4 months of tax paid to the DVLA for 1 calendar month, July. The form sits on their desk for 10 days so another month (August) goes into their pocket. Then another £3.92 of mine is kept, with no breakdown of how the refund was calculated. Maybe the £3.92 is a perk for the IT people.
I'll say it again...thieving c*nts
Looked at emailing them and you can't, unless it is via a 'pick a question from the drop down menu then press send but you can't actually WRITE ANYTHING'.
This is a Government organisation, which says a lot about why this country is now officially a joke to rest of the world.
Third time..thieving c*unts.
Thanks to those who replied though. Never mind. Soon be Christmas.
Fair play to you, that's some rant over a minor admistrative thing which has gone a bit wrong.
You can email them. Just follow the process here and put your query in the "Details" box on the form you eventually get to:
https://www.gov.uk/contact-the-dvla
You can email them. Just follow the process here and put your query in the "Details" box on the form you eventually get to:
https://www.gov.uk/contact-the-dvla
BlimeyCharlie said:
Not seen it publicised that I can register for a refund online, bearing in mind you have to fill a form in still when selling a car?
When registering the transfer of a vehicle online (which automatically triggers the refund of any whole unused months of VED), the only form that needs to be completed manually is the New Keeper's Supplement.The process is:
Tear off the New Keeper’s details slip (V5C/2) from the log book and give to the buyer.
Advise DVLA that you’ve sold the vehicle using the online service - you'll need the 11 digit reference from the latest V5C to do this.
Destroy the rest of the V5C.
Wait for the refund, if any is owing.
BlimeyCharlie said:
An error? Made at the DVLA? A Government department making an error? UNTHINKABLE!
The date was clearly on the form, correctly filled in, using black pen. Took a photo of it too. Not framed it yet.
OK, great. So you can provide them with proof that the form was dated and an error was made. That should get you August's refund.The date was clearly on the form, correctly filled in, using black pen. Took a photo of it too. Not framed it yet.
BlimeyCharlie said:
Then another £3.92 of mine is kept, with no breakdown of how the refund was calculated. Maybe the £3.92 is a perk for the IT people.
Was it 6mo of tax bought? If so, then the premium has never been refunded. Show us how you're working it out...I'm in a similar situation.
I taxed my car for 6 months at the end of June for £148.50.
I sold the car on 10th July and had acknowledgment dated 20th July from DVLA that I was no longer the registered keeper.
I received a refund of £112.50.
I accept I've lost July even though the car was only in my ownership for the first 10 days of it. However, I expect (and DVLA state) to receive a full refund of any unused months, which is 5.
£148.50/6 = 24.75. So I should have 5 x £24.75 back which is £123.75. They have short changed me by £11.25.
Thanks to the OP I've only just realised this. I just accepted that the cheque they sent me was correct (I looked at the value of it and estimated it was about right but never worked it out properly). If I'd not seen this post I wouldn't have checked. Unless I've calculated it wrong and someone can correct me?
I taxed my car for 6 months at the end of June for £148.50.
I sold the car on 10th July and had acknowledgment dated 20th July from DVLA that I was no longer the registered keeper.
I received a refund of £112.50.
I accept I've lost July even though the car was only in my ownership for the first 10 days of it. However, I expect (and DVLA state) to receive a full refund of any unused months, which is 5.
£148.50/6 = 24.75. So I should have 5 x £24.75 back which is £123.75. They have short changed me by £11.25.
Thanks to the OP I've only just realised this. I just accepted that the cheque they sent me was correct (I looked at the value of it and estimated it was about right but never worked it out properly). If I'd not seen this post I wouldn't have checked. Unless I've calculated it wrong and someone can correct me?
Hi said:
Doesn't really answer your question but in future when you sell a car you can do the V5 transfer online using this link https://www.gov.uk/sold-bought-vehicle
That way it is instantly updated that you are no longer the keeper and no longer liable for the tax, plus you get an instant email receipt.
You can only do that between certain hours though. I sold my car on a Sunday, and the service is only available Mon-Sat 8am-6pm.That way it is instantly updated that you are no longer the keeper and no longer liable for the tax, plus you get an instant email receipt.
bluelightbabe said:
I'm in a similar situation.
I taxed my car for 6 months at the end of June for £148.50.
I sold the car on 10th July and had acknowledgment dated 20th July from DVLA that I was no longer the registered keeper.
I received a refund of £112.50.
I accept I've lost July even though the car was only in my ownership for the first 10 days of it. However, I expect (and DVLA state) to receive a full refund of any unused months, which is 5.
£148.50/6 = 24.75. So I should have 5 x £24.75 back which is £123.75. They have short changed me by £11.25.
Thanks to the OP I've only just realised this. I just accepted that the cheque they sent me was correct (I looked at the value of it and estimated it was about right but never worked it out properly). If I'd not seen this post I wouldn't have checked. Unless I've calculated it wrong and someone can correct me?
Further to my previous post quoted above, it appears the refund amount is correct. I contacted them using a link on the DVLA website to see how the refund is calculated and got this back:I taxed my car for 6 months at the end of June for £148.50.
I sold the car on 10th July and had acknowledgment dated 20th July from DVLA that I was no longer the registered keeper.
I received a refund of £112.50.
I accept I've lost July even though the car was only in my ownership for the first 10 days of it. However, I expect (and DVLA state) to receive a full refund of any unused months, which is 5.
£148.50/6 = 24.75. So I should have 5 x £24.75 back which is £123.75. They have short changed me by £11.25.
Thanks to the OP I've only just realised this. I just accepted that the cheque they sent me was correct (I looked at the value of it and estimated it was about right but never worked it out properly). If I'd not seen this post I wouldn't have checked. Unless I've calculated it wrong and someone can correct me?
DVLA said:
The refund is calculated from the date of receipt at DVLA.
If you purchased 12 months tax:-
Divide the amount of tax you paid by 12 and multiply it by the number of full months remaining.
Example: if you paid £120 for your tax which started on the 01/02, and DVLA received your notification on the 02/06, counting July onwards you will have 7 full months remaining.
£120 divided by 12 (months) x 7 (full months remaining) = £70 will be refunded.
If you purchased 6 months tax:-
Important Note: If you made a single 6-month payment for your vehicle tax, you’ll have paid a surcharge at the time. The surcharge isn’t refundable.
To calculate your refund, you need to use the vehicle tax rate for 12 months. You can find the rate at www.gov.uk/calculate-vehicle-tax-rates.
The 12 month rate was £270. £270/12 = £22.50If you purchased 12 months tax:-
Divide the amount of tax you paid by 12 and multiply it by the number of full months remaining.
Example: if you paid £120 for your tax which started on the 01/02, and DVLA received your notification on the 02/06, counting July onwards you will have 7 full months remaining.
£120 divided by 12 (months) x 7 (full months remaining) = £70 will be refunded.
If you purchased 6 months tax:-
Important Note: If you made a single 6-month payment for your vehicle tax, you’ll have paid a surcharge at the time. The surcharge isn’t refundable.
To calculate your refund, you need to use the vehicle tax rate for 12 months. You can find the rate at www.gov.uk/calculate-vehicle-tax-rates.
5 x £22.50 = £112.50 which is what I got back.
So the moral of this story is, if you're selling your car but need to tax it still do it for 12 months. I only did it for 6 months as I thought it pointless to pay for 12 months when I wasn't going to own it for much longer.
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