End of the road for a tax on car emissions

Saturday 20th September 2008, 9:55AM BST.

OWNERS of new gas-guzzling cars are not going to have to pay a tax to fund other environmental initiatives following a States decision yesterday.

Members voted by 25 to 18 to back a proposal from Environment Minister Freddie Cohen to effectively kill off a new vehicle emissions duty on the so-called gas-guzzlers. As a result, money for agreed environmental initiatives will be found from central funds rather than by the imposition of a new tax.

Many States Members felt that Islanders have had to contend with enough new taxes in recent times, but others, including Treasury Minister Terry Le Sueur, contended that Jersey was one of the world’s lowest-taxed economies.
But Senator Cohen successfully argued that now was not the right time for a new tax and said that the £2 million a year it would raise was a similar amount to the GST that would be paid on buying new cars.

The motor trade will be delighted by the decision, having been lobbying the States to reject the move.
In proposing his amendment during the States Business Plan debate to proposals put forward by the Council of Ministers, of which he is a member, Senator Cohen said: ‘We have only just introduced GST and this is not an appropriate time to introduce any new taxation.’

• Picture: Senator Cohen said that a Ford Galaxy would cost £1,000 more under the new system

1
Mark Glanville

September 20, 2008 at 10:30 am

Many States Members felt that Islanders have had to contend with enough new taxes in recent times!!! How ture but why aren’t they doing something about it!

Look at the article a few lines down. Mr Walker got £500,000 approved by these people just by asking for it. Wasting money! How about putting GST back on to Boat Fuel to cover this? Oh No i forgot that a lot of 1(k)s have boats and they agree their own tax rate! But try and get the 3% taken off food? You can sod off they said!

The States of today are like a comedy troop playing to the public. One day there’s a comment about cost cutting then the next they want to spend more. Ha Ha Ha all the way on to the next ferry out of here for me.

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2
Richard

November 12, 2008 at 11:35 pm

About time some common sense came through. Gas guzzlers already pay additional tax in that the road tax is part of the fuel cost, so the more they burn, the more tax they pay. At least 45pence per litre goes straight into the States coffers as it is. And of course Le suer would say Jersey was lower taxed than elsewhere. He can afford the accountants most like him use to avoid tax altogether. However, those of us who live way, way below the so called “average” earnings in this island are the ones that feel the true “indirect tax” measures the most.

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