Failure to declare SORN

[Narolines]

Hi all
I've recently been out of the UK for several months and completely forgot that the SORN delcaration on a classic car I have under restoration was due while I was away. Now I know I was at fault, and I've no quarrel with paying the 40 quid penalty I'm due, but the form I have to send back also says I have to pay arrears of tax on a car that was off-road last year and still is, and hasn't been on the road in the interim. What I'm not clear about is, do I still have to pay the 30-odd quid arrears even though I'm reconfirming the car's off-road status?
TIA

[oldmaggie]

Yes once a SORN notice expires and not renewed road fund licence becomes payable. Worth putting date on a calendar or in a diary to remind you when MOT's or SORN's are due. Its just another stealth tax

[Narolines]

Thanks for that - I couldn't find anything relevant in the DVLA's notes (surprise surprise!) and I suppose I expected thay's find a way to screw another few quid out of me. Ah well.........

[67jock]

i have an old jaguar in a garage, been SORN'ed for 2 years, i got the reminder, and forgot all about it, then found the reminder again last month, i was 2 weeks late, so went online and done it, and got a confirmation e-mail saying thje SORN was effective from 1st Feb...suppose it depends how long you forgot it.

[Narolines]

Thanks for the thought, 67jock - unfortunately it was 2 and a half months late by the time I got back, so I haven't really got a leg to stand on. Time to pay up & look cheerful.......

[Narolines]

Just for the record, folks, I chose to pay the �40 penalty over the phone, and the very helpful lady on the other end assured me I didn't have to pay the calculated back tax as long as the car is staying off-road, but that when it does go back on the road those arrears may be added to the tax I pay then.