PIP 50% car tax reduction again!

elle_may

RobinHill said:

It is quite clear. There was very little messing about. My partner has just done so for a service user ...

"How to claim:

If you’re claiming for a vehicle for the first time, you have to claim at a Post Office. You must do this every time you change your vehicle.

A cheque or payable order (made out to ‘DVLA, Swansea’) for 50% of the full rate of car tax for the vehicle."

And if you go to full exemption from 50% you have to re do this at a post office olso like a new application.

melbury

M25 said:

It's definitely a faff (and expensive with recorded delivery) but I always do it a month before it's due.

Takes 3 weeks normally even during COVID but I've had a 9 week period for them to actually cash the cheque.

No way would I pay it upfront then claim back as that's even more work for you and them.

No actually it is easier.

 I was too worried about the car not being taxed to send everything off and rely on them doing it quite quickly.

SuzWuz

Hi im a newbie, I think this is still an archaic way to have to pay for 50% reduction car tax.  

1.  You have to have the money available upfront and then keep that aside until they clear the cheque

2. Having to post everything including paying for recorded delivery as they didn't receive all my papers once and it      was a right faff.  My partner had to pay the full amount of car tax and then claim the 50% back afterwards.  We dont have that kind of money available so had to borrow from family!

3. It would be so much easier to be able to pay online or over the phone or in the post office. Robin Hill -  I know it says for the FIRST time you can do this, but then you have to do it again every 6 months or 12 months sending all the stuff in the post again in advance with 6 weeks for it to be processed.

4. its is extremely anxiety inducing for me all the prep and waiting, will i be able to use my car, will they process it in time, when will they cash the cheque, sometime it can be months afterwards and you dont know where you are up to.

5.  This time around was awful, i have mental illness and chronic pain and i completey forgot my 6 months was due to renew and didnt get the postal reminder until 2 weeks before it was due.  That is no way near enough time to prepare, send and process!  so this time i had to bite the bullet and pay by direct debit the full amount of car tax for 12 months.  This is highly upsetting and really does make me feel like they are making this difficult for vunerable people so they dont claim it.  (also was having a lot of work on car to pass its MOT and costs etc.)

I have been trying to phone to find out if i can still claim the 50% and apply now at least its being paid by direct bebit and change it but i can never get through on the phone and its all to stressful.  Ive no idea if this is a possibility??

When I spoke to someone last year by email (they gave me when eventually got through on phone) as i has to do all the chasing up when i hadnt heard anything and they didnt receive my papers and cheque i had sent, i asked them if the way to pay for 50% reduction was going to updated through the computer system,( also would be handy as then would already have a lot of the details you have to send in post, i dont see why we cant send electronically either) - they said it was being looked into, so every year i live in hope when i check the Gov website but i doubt it will change soon unfortunately !

sorry this is a bit of a ramble but this is how much stuff i am dealing with in this situation.  I know i have learnt that next time i need to make sure i have my own reminder to get it in the post early enough and save the money.  The point im trying to make is, when you already have chronic pain every day, are dealing with anxiety and depression, this sort of application system really doesnt help when you already have so much to deal with.  Please make it easier !!

Thank you, i hope you enjoyed my essay/book -  (sorry for length) 

poppy12345

born_again said:

  I know it says for the FIRST time you can do this, but then you have to do it again every 6 months or 12 months sending all the stuff in the post again in advance with 6 weeks for it to be processed.

From reading this link, you only have to do this once per car. As the V5 comes back with the correct tax class.

https://www.gov.uk/change-vehicle-tax-class/tax-due-to-run-out-or-changing-if-vehicle-is-exempt

That's not correct. That link is not referring to the 50% reduction. For this there's no change in the tax class on the V5. This only changes for those that have free road tax with either Enhanced mobility PIP/ADP or high rate mobility DLA. 

The 50% reduction needs to be claimed by post every time you need to tax your vehicle. The rules haven't changed for this since PIP was introduced in April 2013. 

M25

If you have paid upfront the whole amount (or set up a direct debit etc) you then have to complete a V10 and put in everything required for a 50% (pro-rata as the dates won't tally) in with the V10 and put in a letter explaining you've paid upfront but would now like to apply for the 50% off.

I reckon people either do that every year as mentioned in this thread and of course if you change your vehicle (you'll have to wait until you have a newly issued V5 in your name).

V10: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-vehicle-tax-v10 or at a Post office.

born_again

poppy12345 said:

born_again said:

  I know it says for the FIRST time you can do this, but then you have to do it again every 6 months or 12 months sending all the stuff in the post again in advance with 6 weeks for it to be processed.

From reading this link, you only have to do this once per car. As the V5 comes back with the correct tax class.

https://www.gov.uk/change-vehicle-tax-class/tax-due-to-run-out-or-changing-if-vehicle-is-exempt

That's not correct. That link is not referring to the 50% reduction. For this there's no change in the tax class on the V5. This only changes for those that have free road tax with either Enhanced mobility PIP/ADP or high rate mobility DLA. 

The 50% reduction needs to be claimed by post every time you need to tax your vehicle. The rules haven't changed for this since PIP was introduced in April 2013. 

Thanks @poppy12345 I have deleted my post with the incorrect info in 👍

boot73

I find this such a faff! I usually pay it in full then send off all the documents etc which is costly! Then wait absolutely ages to get my 50% back - last time it took at least 2 months! I know a friend who can get it but doesn't bother due to the faff! Surely they could simplify this process! 

poppy12345

boot73 said:

Surely they could simplify this process! 

Yes, I agree with that. It's been the same since PIP was introduced in April 2013.