HMRC Hassle. Operation Safe Drive

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We have run a legal Agricultural/Forestry business a very long time and use a vehicle which is registered with DVLA as Agricultural Machine so can use Red diesel provided not doing certain works like private gardens and machine haulage to building sites. A little while ago a unmarked/signed Black Toyota Hilux double cabin pulled into base with two men and said from Nottingham HMRC Specialist Investigation Unit of Road Fuels Testing and wanted to know the type of fuel we used.

 

We showed DVLA Logbook, NFU Tractor Insurance and confirmed what the vehicle was used to do. These people were making up own ideas of law and giving us severe hassle so we told them to leave.

 

Came back this morning giving hassle again so reported/complained to HMRC and Police as NOT been to more local Agricultural/Forestry business in area as checked up and should have been on public roads doing Derbyshire Operation Safe Drive with VOSA.

 

So should one have the same problems and are legal take this advice.

 

1. Take Logbook and Insurance documents with machine.

 

2. Provided vehicle plate matches logbook and is used for that purpose then discussion ends without a legal person in attendance.

 

3. HMRC can then test for Kerosene in tanks as illegal but no more and have to leave site.

 

4. Take pictures of vehicles and people faces and ask full contact details of main office.

 

I said wanted illegal fuel duties back on chainsaw petrol over last 30 years as NOT being used in road going vehicles.

[SteveA]

Is there a law to say fuel duty may only be claimed on road going vehicles? Now, THAT would be something!

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Should have mentioned make sure when dipping tanks a CLEAN unused hose each time from HMRC to avoid possible issues with testing of samples.

[aspenarb]

We have run a legal Agricultural/Forestry business a very long time and use a vehicle which is registered with DVLA as Agricultural Machine so can use Red diesel provided not doing certain works like private gardens and machine haulage to building sites. A little while ago a unmarked/signed Black Toyota Hilux double cabin pulled into base with two men and said from Nottingham HMRC Specialist Investigation Unit of Road Fuels Testing and wanted to know the type of fuel we used.

 

We showed DVLA Logbook, NFU Tractor Insurance and confirmed what the vehicle was used to do. These people were making up own ideas of law and giving us severe hassle so we told them to leave.

 

Came back this morning giving hassle again so reported/complained to HMRC and Police as NOT been to more local Agricultural/Forestry business in area as checked up and should have been on public roads doing Derbyshire Operation Safe Drive with VOSA.

 

So should one have the same problems and are legal take this advice.

 

1. Take Logbook and Insurance documents with machine.

 

2. Provided vehicle plate matches logbook and is used for that purpose then discussion ends without a legal person in attendance.

 

3. HMRC can then test for Kerosene in tanks as illegal but no more and have to leave site.

 

4. Take pictures of vehicles and people faces and ask full contact details of main office.

 

I said wanted illegal fuel duties back on chainsaw petrol over last 30 years as NOT being used in road going vehicles.

 

 

Had a visit today for over an hour, they picked up on the ag registered BedfordTM Bowser and the Cherry picker, they said they were unsure about the fuel usage in these and would get back to me. One thing that did crop up and something one needs to be careful of is things like an old landrover parked up in the yard for use within the farm, if its not sorn they can still impose penalties on you the same as if its on the road. So irrespective of MOT or tax it needs to be sorn to be exempt from a nick. Also among the small talk an officer was saying about confiscating a lot of tractors recently that were engaged in non ag use while on red.

 

Bob

 

 

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Interesting to know how the HMRC vehicle was taxed, insured as being used as a commercial vehicle so cannot be "Private Light Goods" Make sure new dipping tubes between each vehicle to avoid testing issues.