You are billed for the vehicle you owned on the date of registration. If you have purchased a new vehicle and transferred your tags from the old vehicle to the new one, then the tax on the old vehicle would be due in full. You would not receive a tax bill on the new vehicle until you renew your registration on the old tag. However, if you sold your vehicle AND turned in the tag to the DMV, you should send a copy of the receipt from DMV to the Tax Department within 1 year in order to qualify for a release or refund.