Car tax - think I'm being a bit thick

elsien

I have a letter from DVLA telling me my car tax runs out on 31 Jan. For various reasons I need to phone them to check if it's been paid and they tell me I have till 16th Feb. When I asked why the letter said 31 Jan, the answer is "that's the renewal date."
I know it's the renewal date, that's why I'm trying to renew it; what I don't understand is why if the renewal date is 31 Jan, my car tax runs till 16th Feb.
What am I missing here? 
Just so I don't get my dates mixed up next time round.
Thanks

Petriix

Seems odd because there's no grace period anymore. Your best bet is to renew the tax ASAP and then seek a refund if you end up paying twice.

I'm unsure how you wouldn't know if you've paid though. 

elsien

I changed bank account,  the direct debit should have transferred but no payment came out of either account but the DVLA website is showing  that I am taxed till 1 Feb 2024. 
Car bought on 1 Feb hence the 31 Jan end date so no clue why they are still saying I have till 16th when I phoned up this morning. They assure  me I am ok till the direct debit goes through but I don't understand why, hence posting on here because the call centre person wasn't particularly helpful.  

Goudy

Your VED won't run until 16th Feb.
VED runs from the 1st of each month. (so will end on the last day of a month).

If you pay for your VED monthly, the 16th might be the payment date.
So if it's by direct debit, they usually take the direct debit 10 days after you tax a vehicle and you can tax a vehicle on any day though it will be back dated to the 1st of every month.

Confusing I know but as an example.
You bought a car last year around the 6th Feb and went online to tax it by monthly DD's.
The tax would run from the 1st Feb (and end on the 31st jan if you did 12 months) and your DD's would come out of your account around the 16th of each month.

elsien

Thanks, but I pay annually not monthly. 

baser999

But as Goudy said, the tax would run from 1st of the month, regardless of whether you pay annually or monthly. The 16th is likely the direct debit date, effectively giving you a fortnight before the payment becomes due 

elsien

Thank you. That does make sense, I just wasn’t expecting to have the tax confirmed as paid before it actually was in practice.

facade

Could the 16th be the enforcement date?

If it is still unpaid on 16th The System will generate the fine?

elsien

facade said:

Could the 16th be the enforcement date?

If it is still unpaid on 16th The System will generate the fine?

 I hope not! Might try to call them again to see if I can speak to someone who is a little more forthcoming. 

Goudy

Can you look back at your bank statement for Feb 2022?
See when last years payment came out.

HogMan

As above 16th is probably the DD date
This is from the schedule that was sent to me when I set mine up

What happens after you have set up

or renewed your Direct Debit?

You'll get confirmation by email (if you have provided an email address) or by post.

DVLA will take payments on the first working day of every month except for the first

payment, which can vary. The first payment will not be taken before your vehicle tax

starts.

You do not have to wait for DVLA to take the first payment before you can use your

vehicle on the road. If you're taxing in advance, you can use the vehicle from the date

the vehicle tax starts.