PEOPLE ARE NEVER more industrious than when they’re trying to get out of paying tax.
As if confirmation were needed, the Gardaí announced this afternoon that 18 luxury cars have been impounded on suspicion that their owners have been under-declaring the cubic capacity (cc) of their engines.
Annual motor tax rates range from under €200 for a car less than 1,000cc to almost €2,000 for larger vehicles over 3,000cc (an electric car will set you back only €120 yearly).
The Gardaí were unable to confirm to TheJournal.ie the extent of the scam (i.e. whether or not extremely large cars were being passed off as classic Minis).
However, all 18 of the cars seized are BMWs so theoretically the fraud could total a maximum of about €30,000.
The cars were seized over the last 4 days, while one man has been arrested and charged with fraud and theft.
He’ll go before the Criminal Courts of Justice on 21 April.
While all of the cars seized in this phase of the operation are BMWs, it seems that many more luxury cars from different manufacturers are involved in the scam.
The Gardaí have officially appealed to those involved “to immediately regularise the situation with their local tax office, insurance company and An Garda Síochána”.
The correct capacity of a car should be included on the vehicle’s licensing certificate which is typically included when a car changes hands.
Gardaí-sanctioned advice on buying a new car can be found here.
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