The rates of VRT on each category vehicle are as follows: Private Cars
A1 Cars under 1,400cc
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22.5% of Open Market Selling Price — OMSP
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A2 1,400 to 1,900cc
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25% of OMSP
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A3 Cars over 1,900cc
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30% of OMSP
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Small vans and some jeeps
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13.3% of OMSP
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Other Vehicles
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€50 — flat rate
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In Budget 2003, the band to which the highest VRT rate (30%) applies, was widened to include cars between 1901cc and 2000cc inclusive (these had previously been taxed at 25%).
The VRT rates and bands are reviewed in the annual Budgetary process. For example, in last year's Budget, I introduced a 50% VRT relief for flexible fuel vehicles and a similar relief was already in place for hybrid electric cars. I have no plans to introduce a general reduction of VRT.
As for the elimination of VRT over a period of time, I have no plans at present to do so. The European Commission published a proposal for a directive in relation to car taxes in July 2005 which supports the gradual abolition of registration taxes which it believes impacting on the functioning of the internal market. However, the aim of the proposal is that such registration taxes would be replaced by circulation taxes which would have a CO2 element.
At EU Council discussions, Ireland has pointed out that we regard VRT as a national tax that falls within the national competence — a position shared by several other Member States. Our view is that the mix of taxes, their levels and rates are matters for EU Member States based on legitimate choices.
Within the EU Single Market, the facility is available for Member States to raise revenue through internal taxation subject to certain provisos such as the following:
(1) the measures do not give rise to border controls,
(2) there is no discrimination as between home produced goods and those imported from other Member States, and
(3) the measures are not of the nature of quantitative restriction on imports or exports.
VRT has been examined by the European Court of Justice and has been found to be compatible with EU legislation. Motor vehicle taxes have been a traditional source of revenue in Ireland for decades and provide significant revenue to the Exchequer which is used to fund vital public services. For example, VRT yielded approximately €1,149 million in 2005. As regards the balance of taxation, Ireland has prioritised tax reductions on income earned by employees, in preference to other tax areas, and this policy has helped create record employment levels.