Car Tax Rise - V11 inaccurate

woodchal

I received a reminder (V11) to say that my car tax was due by the end of April on 8th April,

It says that my car tax is £140. There IS a note in red saying "The rates of duty shown were correct at the time of printing. If they change in the budget, you may need to pay a different rate" Well of course there is no spring budget anymore BUT the duty did go up to £145 on 1st April.

These increased rates were agreed some time ago. I think it is disingenuous for the letter received on 8th April to still mention the old rate with no indication that the rates increased on 1st April - they knew about the increase - it wasn't agreed in the spring budget! It should have been mentioned in the V11. The incorrect V11 amounts to misrepresentation.

Can I pay on March 31st next year to avoid the future increase please.

AdrianC

Yes, of course you can cancel your current tax at the end of March next year, then re-tax it from 1st April. You can't buy tax from 1st May before 1st April, though.

Or just tax it for six months now, and retax for a year come November.

(BTW, I take it you've only acquired this car in the last year - because it's the same story every April)

woodchal

"I take it you've only acquired this car in the last year - because it's the same story every April"

Yes new last year - However i was used to car tax going up in the budget (when we had one)

My point was really that they knew about this increase before the V11 was printed and so it should have been accurate - not provide an inaccurate price. It was issued for an April renewal and therefore could have (and should have) had the April price!

AdrianC

OK, so apart from have a little rant over a fiver, what do you want to do?

After all, as you point out, the increase was known publicly well in advance, so you - too - knew that the increase phrasing would likely apply. October's Autumn Statement was when it was announced.

woodchal

Whether or not I knew is not relevant - I wasn't responsible for sending out inaccurate V11 reminders to millions of people. The government should at all times seek to make their communications accurate.

We should all like to see the accuracy of government communications improved?

The price was not "correct at the time of printing" - I had a very faint hope that this forum might be visited by people that could make a difference.

DoaM

The reality is that these documents are sent for printing quite well in advance of when they're sent out to the vehicle keepers. Thus DVLA will retain such wording in case the Gov decide to have a snap budget or some other such event arises (e.g. general election). Basically they're covering their arisses.

Aylesbury_Duck

woodchal wrote: »

The price was not "correct at the time of printing" - I had a very faint hope that this forum might be visited by people that could make a difference.

Like whom? We don't all work for the Exchequer or the DVSA so what difference could forum members make?

Aylesbury_Duck

Hello, Phil Hammond here. I'm just sat with Aylesbury Duck and have been reading your thread. I will speak to the DVLA to ensure their reminder letters are updated with the very latest information with immediate effect.

AdrianC

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

Hello, Phil Hammond here. I'm just sat with Aylesbury Duck and have been reading your thread. I will speak to the DVLA to ensure their reminder letters are updated with the very latest information with immediate effect.

Hi, Phil.
Julie Lennard, CEO of DVLA here, just popped in to have a cuppa with AdrianC. What a remarkable coincidence of timing!

I'm on it today.

Jules.

Aylesbury_Duck

AdrianC wrote: »

Hi, Phil.
Julie Lennard, CEO of DVLA here, just popped in to have a cuppa with AdrianC. What a remarkable coincidence of timing!

I'm on it today.

Jules.

Jules! How are you?

Listen, get the kettle on and I'll pop round so we can sort this nonsense out quickly. I'll bring the spreadsheet, you draft a form of words. Two sugars, see you in a bit.

Hamster x

Marvel1

woodchal wrote: »

Can I pay on March 31st next year to avoid the future increase please.

:huh:

Even if you pay the old rate 31st March, you are still going to pay the new rate a year later: