The scheme is simple: import a cargo minibus, clear it through customs as cargo, and then convert it to passenger use. Since the customs burden on cargo vehicles was much lower, the vehicle owner saved a considerable amount. Now the Cabinet of Ministers intends to reform the taxation of trucks and eliminate tax "loopholes" with vehicle conversion.
Thus, it is proposed to return the excise tax on converted vehicles to the Tax Code. Recall that it was abolished in April this year under pressure from an outraged public. Now they want to make the payment of excise tax mandatory when re-registering a vehicle if it was originally cleared as a truck or van.
Last time, this initiative (the first 4 months of 2014) led to a sharp decline in vehicle imports by several times. As a result, the treasury lost a significant amount.
It should be noted that the draft of the new Tax Code also proposes, in order to compensate for the abolition of the fee for the first registration of vehicles, to increase excise tax rates on cars, as well as to include trucks and buses in the list of excisable goods. The rates have already been announced.
According to AUTO-Consulting, for new trucks, depending on the gross weight: from 0.01 euros to 0.016 euros per 1 cubic cm of engine for new cars, and for cars older than 8 years, the rates increase by 20 times.
