TAXI drivers have called for a change in the law after being forced to pay GST when buying wheelchair friendly vehicles.
Under the previous law, taxi drivers were exempt from paying Vehicle Registration Duty for such taxis. But VRD was scrapped when GST was introduced – and the new tax doesn’t carry the same exemption.
One taxi driver, who doesn’t want to be named, said that he will be forced to pay almost £1,000 in GST when he buys a new vehicle in the next few weeks.
The driver, who will have to pay the tax himself because he is classed as self-employed, said: ‘We all thought that these vehicles were going to be exempt from GST as we were told that you wouldn’t have to pay the tax on disabled facilities, but this doesn’t appear to be the case for taxis.
Article posted on 31st May, 2008 - 9.56am
One Article Comment
I also was thinking of buying a new London Taxi but as it would be nearly £1000 more because of GST I am thinking again. Why should we be penalised because we decide to buy a vehicle, which is an asset for the community, and is custom made for handicapped people. Mr Le Sueur has not thought enough about exemptions from this unfair tax.