Procedure descriptions
Pay motor vehicle tax
The customs administration sets the amount of motor vehicle tax.
In order to be able to register a vehicle, you must submit a SEPA direct debit mandate to the registration authority. This authorises the customs administration to debit the vehicle tax by direct debit on the due date.
In addition, you as the vehicle owner must not have any motor vehicle tax arrears.
Responsible department
the main customs office
Details
Prerequisite
- The vehicle is registered in your name. You must pay tax on every vehicle registered in your name.
- There must be no outstanding motor vehicle tax amounts.
Procedure
Registration and direct debit
If a vehicle is to be registered in your name, you must submit the completed and signed "SEPA direct debit mandate" form to the relevant office.
If you have the registration or re-registration carried out by a representative (e.g. the car dealership), they will need a power of attorney from you for the registration.
Tax assessment and payment of the tax
After registration, you will automatically receive a tax assessment notice from the main customs office. This contains the tax number, the motor vehicle tax assessed and all the necessary payment instructions.
You must always pay the vehicle tax for one year in advance.
Vehicle deregistration and tax refund
If the tax liability ends, for example because you deregister your vehicle, a new amount is assessed for the last period between the start and deregistration. The excess tax paid in advance will then be refunded to you.
If a vehicle is sold, the tax liability ends for the person selling the vehicle at the time when the prescribed notification of sale is received by the registration authority, at the latest when the new vehicle licence is handed over to the acquiring person. In addition to notification of the acquiring person's address, such notification also includes confirmation of receipt of the vehicle documents (see also the notes in the vehicle registration certificate/registration certificate Part I).
By fulfilling the obligation to register or re-register the vehicle in their name, the acquiring person can act as an exempting agent for the selling person. If the acquiring person does not fulfil this obligation, the previous vehicle owner cannot invoke the fact that the acquiring person is obliged to register or re-register the vehicle in accordance with the agreements made.
The person selling the vehicle bears the full risk of non-termination of the tax liability if they fail to submit the prescribed notification of sale to the registration office themselves.
Change of bank details
If your bank details change, you must notify your main customs office of the new account details as soon as possible. To do this, issue a new SEPA direct debit mandate for the collection of vehicle tax.
Deadlines
In the case of domestic vehicles, the tax liability begins with the registration under traffic law and continues for as long as the vehicle is authorised for use on public roads, but for at least one month.
Required documents
- SEPA direct debit mandate form, also for changes to bank details
- power of attorney, if applicable
Costs
- Procedural costs: none
- if applicable: Costs for the registration and the registration and re-registration of the vehicle
Miscellaneous
- In order to facilitate the collection of vehicle tax, the registration of a vehicle is only possible if a SEPA direct debit mandate is issued for the collection of vehicle tax.
- An annual tax of more than EUR 500.00 can be paid in equal half-yearly instalments plus three percent after prior notification to the responsible main customs office. If the annual tax exceeds EUR 1,000, payment can be made in equal quarterly instalments plus six percent.
Legal basis
Kraftfahrzeugsteuergesetz (KraftStG):
- § 9 Steuersatz
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Bundesfinanzministerium, 21.11.2024
Contact
Bürger- und Standesamt (Bürgeramt)
eMail buergeramt@heidenheim.de
Telefon (0 73 21) 3 27-33 42
Fax (0 73 21) 3 23-33 32