Tax evasion in Northern Ireland decreases

Motor tax evasion in Northern Ireland has fallen by almost 25% over the past two years, the government has today revealed.

The results of the 2005 roadside survey have shown that the overall rate of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) evasion was 5.4% down from 7.2% the previous year.

For specific categories the rates were 3.9% for cars and vans and 5.5% for goods vehicles.

Commenting on the latest figures, Chief Executive of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland (DVLNI), Brendan Magee, said: "We are very pleased to see the reduction. In fact evasion rates for cars and vans has almost halved since 2002.

"The reduction can be attributed to the introduction of New Car Tax rules, the increase in the number of detection cases and more joint operations with the PSNI and other enforcement agencies."

Mr Magee concluded by saying that the DVLNI cannot afford to be complacent, as evasion rates in Northern Ireland are still over twice the average of the rest of the UK and remain high at 5.5% for Goods vehicles.

(EF/SP)