A MOTHER has revealed that she thought it would be cheaper and more relaxing to live in Spain, but was recently hit with a very big shock.
Natasha Tuckey, a content creator who left the UK for a life abroad has opened up on the unexpected law that saw her slapped with a shocking and very expensive bill.
The mum, who is currently living in Alicante, a port city on Spain’s southeastern Costa Blanca offering cultural attractions, beaches, a palm-lined promenade and a marina, opened up on her recent situation and warned others to not get “caught out by the vehicle tax system.”
Posting on social media, the expat shared her warning and said: “They told me living in Spain was relaxing – then I met the vehicle tax system.”
Natasha acknowledged: “Picture this, it’s January, the sun’s out, I’m feeling great – new car, new me, just cruising around living the life.”
Just a few months later, Natasha decided to sell the car, leaving her feeling “smug” by how simple the process was.
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But weeks later, the mother was left in disbelief when she was hit with an unexpected tax bill for €270 [£235].
Natasha added: “Then, out of nowhere, boom, I get a tax bill and it’s for the whole year – apparently, now this is the kicker, whoever owns the car on January 1st pays the tax for the entire year, even if you sell it the next day.”
IVTM (Impuesto sobre Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica) is a Spanish municipal tax.
Anyone in Spain who has a registered vehicle and wants to drive on public roads has to pay IVTM, with no exemptions for hybrid or electric vehicles.
The road tax period begins on January 1st of each year, but the voluntary payment period is usually between the months of April and June.
Payments should be made to the local council in the area where the vehicle is registered.
This means that when someone sells a new or second-hand vehicle, they are responsible for the road tax for the year of sale.
The amount of road tax you’ll pay depends on a variety of factors, such as engine power, vehicle type and weight.
However, the biggest differentiating factor is where you live, as individual towns and cities set the final rate.
How easy is it to move abroad?
Brexit means British citizens now have to apply for visas to move to countries within the EU. While some countries residency restrictions are easier than others, here’s what you need to do at home before moving:
- Notify HMRC about your upcoming move.
- Let your local authority know and provide a forwarding address.
- Contact your mortgage and utility providers and bank before leaving.
- If you have paid enough UK national insurance contributions, you can qualify for a state pension abroad – contact the International Pension Centre.
- You can sign up to the Royal Mail’s redirection service.
- If you have outstanding student loans, contact the Student Loans Centre.
- If you have children, give due notice to childcares and schools.
Following this, Natasha confirmed: “Basically I paid someone else’s car tax for 11 months – I called the office like, ‘surely there’s been some kind of mistake’ and the lady just goes, ‘welcome to Spain.’”
As a result, she advised: “So before you buy or sell a car in Spain, check the calendar because the government definitely does.”
Social media users react
Natasha’s TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @natashatuckey, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 113,600 views in just three days.
Social media users were shocked by the unexpected tax rule and many raced to the comments to express this.
That’s crazy
TikTok user
One person said: “Always check when moving abroad.”
Another gasped: “What! But you don’t own or have the responsibility of that car. That’s crazy.”
A third commented: “It’s the same in Sweden but a different month for each car.”
Meanwhile, someone else chimed in and recognised: “Malta is the same.”
At the same time, another observed: “THE VERY SAME IN ITALY.”
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