What do I put in V55/5 box 3 period of tax?
Reviewed 2026-07-10
Short answer
Put whether you want 6 months or 12 months of vehicle tax, then make sure the payment and tax start date match that choice.
Official position
The V355/5 guidance says box 3 is where you fill in whether you want to tax the vehicle for 6 months or 12 months. The V55/5 is both a first-registration and first-tax application, so inconsistent tax period, tax class, start date or payment details can delay the pack.
What to do
Choose either 6 months or 12 months where the vehicle tax class allows it.
Check the payable amount using the tax class and vehicle details before sending payment.
Make box 3 align with box 30, the date from which tax is to run.
If the vehicle is tax-exempt, still complete the tax class and tax application correctly rather than ignoring the tax boxes.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a tax period but sending the wrong payment amount.
- Leaving box 3 blank because the vehicle is still waiting for DVLA registration.
- Using the import date or foreign registration date as the tax period.
Related help
Official sources
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