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Customs VRT blitz gets underway
12.11.09
by Damian Dowds, Inishowen
Independent
THE Revenue Commissioners have commenced a major
national crackdown on Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT)
offences. Customs checkpoints, principally in
border counties and major urban areas, commenced
last week in an operation that will continue for
some time.
The major focus of the blitz is VRT evasion
through the use of foreign registered number
plates.
“We maintain a focus on VRT offences throughout
the year but at regular intervals we undertake
‘blitz’ style operations which are high
visibility,” said a Customs spokesman. “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."
When a person resident in the State acquires a
vehicle on which Vehicle Registration Tax has
not been paid, they must pay the VRT due not
later than the end of the following working day. |
Section 134 of the
Finance Act 2001 empowers Revenue’s Customs Officers
to stop any vehicle for any purpose related to
vehicle registration tax. Compliance with VRT
regulations in Donegal is generally high, but the
customs have dealt with several cases of evasion.
During the period 1 January |
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to 31 October 2009,
Donegal Town VRT office registered 6,252 second hand
vehicles and collected €12.89 million in VRT and
VAT. Customs officers issued 405 warning notices,
seized 172 vehicles with a value of €1.55 million,
and collected €616,000 in VRT and penalties in the
same period.
The Customs spokesman added that the number of
seizures to date in 2009 is up on the same period in
2008.
“Cases where the warning notices have not been
complied with are now being targeted for seizure and
possible prosecution as non-compliance renders the
vehicles liable to seizure and the owners liable to
prosecution,” a senior Revenue official in
Letterkenny said. “Where a person is found guilty in
the District Court the fine is €5,000 for every
charge and the fine for obstruction is also €5,000.” |
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