Road Tax in Tamil Nadu

The State Governments collect road tax from vehicle owners for the maintenance of existing infrastructure and construction of new roads in the state of Tamil Nadu.

 

It is advisable to know that both the State Government and Central Government levy different types of road taxes. The State Government imposes annual and lifetime motor vehicles tax, passenger and goods tax, state VAT, and toll tax. Whereas the Central Government imposes different types of road tax like Customs duty, central excise, central sales tax, GST, and other additional cesses based on the vehicle type and model name.

 

Skipping the RTO road tax payment in Tamil Nadu can lead to hefty fines.

 

Tamil Nadu is a famous state in southern India, rich in history, culture and heritage. People who are looking to buy a new vehicle in the state should be aware of the road tax and registration charges in Tamil Nadu, which apply over the manufacturer’s price. This road tax plus the registration costs and the cost of insurance, together make up the ‘on-road price’ of the new vehicle.

 

In this article, we will discuss the road tax in Tamil Nadu, how it is calculated, and the process to pay it online. Before we get into the details of road tax in Tamil Nadu, let us understand why road tax is levied at the state level.

Who Levies Road Tax and Why is it State Level?

Different types of road tax are levied by both the State Government and Central Government:

• State Government

State VAT, passenger and goods tax, annual and lifetime motor vehicles tax, and toll tax.

• Central Government

Central excise, GST, customs duty, central sales tax, and other additional cesses.

 

These road taxes are levied on motor vehicles that are used for personal and commercial purposes, including two-wheelers, four-wheelers and other types of vehicles.

 

Now the question arises, why is road tax levied at the state level when the national highways are constructed and maintained by the Central Government? This is because approximately 80% of the roads across Indian states are constructed by the respective State Governments. Since these states bear the cost of construction of these roads, they collect the road tax.

Road tax in Tamil Nadu can be paid by visiting any of the regional transport offices. Here, payments are made via cash or DD. However, it is not necessary to visit an RTO. Online payment of road tax in Tamil Nadu is a convenient option that can be done using any internet-enabled device. Motor vehicle tax online payment in Tamil Nadu is a very useful option for commercial vehicles entering TN from other states since they need to pay the ‘other state vehicle tax’. While this can be done on most highway toll booths, making this payment online helps you cross these tolls without having to wait in long congested queues.

 

Follow the steps mentioned below for online road tax payment in Tamil Nadu:

 

1. Visit - https://tnsta.gov.in/vahan_services.jsp and click on ‘Pay Tax’.

2. You will be redirected to https://vahan.parivahan.gov.in/vahanservice/vahan/ui/statevalidation/homepage.xhtml.

3. Enter your vehicle registration number, state and RTO and click on ‘Proceed’.

4. Select the ‘Pay Your Tax’ option under the ‘RC Related Services’ dropdown.

5. Use the available online payment methods such as debit or credit cards, online banking, etc. to pay your pending road tax.

6. Download and save the payment receipt for future reference.

The road tax in Tamil Nadu is governed by the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Taxation Act, 1974. It governs the Tamil Nadu road tax charges, applicability, collections, calculations, and penalties in the state. Interestingly, there is one flat rate at which the road tax in Tamil Nadu is calculated for the new two-wheelers and four-wheelers during registration. For older vehicles, a different mechanism is followed which has been explained in the forthcoming sections. It is worth noting that there are some vehicles that have been granted an exemption from the payment of road tax in Tamil Nadu. These include:

 

• Vehicles used as ambulances.

• Vehicles used as a funeral van.

• Vehicles with passengers of the Ministry of Defence.

• Central and State armed forces in uniform.

• A vehicle belonging to any other Government agency or organisation for purposes of survey, inspection, operation, or construction and maintenance of national highways.

• Vehicles belonging to the NHAI.

• Vehicles belonging to an Executive Magistrate.

• Vehicles belonging to the fire-fighting department.

As per the new regulations introduced in 2008, the following are the road tax rates based on the original cost of the two-wheeler:

 

If you’re looking to understand the applicable road tax for cars in Tamil Nadu, then the table provided below will serve you well. The rate is flat across types of four-wheelers irrespective of their engine capacity, weight, etc. It is purely dependent on the age of the vehicle and the original cost.

If you own a commercial vehicle then you can choose to make online road tax payment in Tamil Nadu or pay by visiting the RTO directly. The rates are the same regardless of the mode of payment. They are, in fact, based on the unladen weight of the vehicles and taxed as described in the table provided below.

Non-payment of road taxes timely incur penalties and reprimands. The penalties are primarily calculated as per the delay period. As per a new ruling in Tamil Nadu, a 100% penalty may be charged if taxes are unpaid for over 45 days after the due date. However, this can be contested by the people.

The State Governments collect road tax from vehicle owners for the maintenance of existing roads and constructing new roads in the state. Skipping the RTO road tax payment in Tamil Nadu can lead to hefty fines. Another important traffic rule is insuring your vehicle with the right motor insurance policy. So, if you haven’t insured your precious vehicle yet, wait no more! Check out the motor insurance plans available at Bajaj Markets now!