Motor tax can be paid on an annual, half-yearly or quarterly basis. The rate for the half-yearly option is 55.5% of the annual rate, and, for the quarterly option, 28.25% of the annual rate.
The number of discs issued in 2021 and the associated receipts (excluding arrears of motor tax) are as follows:
|
Number of discs issued
|
Percentage of discs issued
|
Receipts (€)
|
Annual
|
2,047,431
|
42.9
|
519,759,241
|
Half-yearly
|
702,130
|
14.8
|
127,449,601
|
Quarterly
|
2,021,116
|
42.3
|
213,390,780
|
Total
|
4,770,677
|
100
|
860,599,622
|
The loss of income that would arise from equalising rates for the non-annual options would have a negative impact on motor tax revenue and would have to be borne elsewhere in the motor tax system or in the taxation system generally. The potential loss to the Exchequer has been estimated at just over €37 m, based on the volume of transactions in 2021.