I move:
(1) THAT in this Resolution -
"Act of 1952" means the Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act 1952 (No. 24 of 1952);
"Act of 2013" means the Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Act 2013 (No. 9 of 2013).
(2) That as respects licences under section 1 of the Act of 1952 taken out for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016, the Schedule to the Act of 1952 be amended by substituting the following for paragraph 5 of Part I (amended by section 4 of the Act of 2013) of that Schedule:
“5. Vehicles (including tricycles weighing more than 500 kilograms unladen) constructed or adapted for use and used for the conveyance of goods or burden of any other description in the course of trade or business (including agriculture and the performance by a local or public authority of its functions) and vehicle constructed or adapted for use and used for the conveyance of a machine, workshop, contrivance or implement by or in which goods being conveyed by such vehicles are processed or manufactured while the vehicles are in motion:
(a) being vehicles which are electrically propelled and which do not exceed 1,500 kilograms in weight unladen, |
€92 |
(b) being vehicles which are not such electrically propelled vehicles as aforesaid and which have a weight unladen — |
|
(i) not exceeding 3,000 kilograms, |
€333 |
(ii) exceeding 3,000 kilograms but not exceeding 4,000 kilograms, |
€420 |
(iii) exceeding 4,000 kilograms but not exceeding 12,000 kilograms, |
€500 |
(iv) exceeding 12,000 kilograms. |
€900 |
(3) It is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1927 (No. 7 of 1927).
Financial Resolution No. 1 provides for the amendment of the Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act 1952. In the light of the importance of the haulage industry to our export-led growth and to ensure Ireland remains competitive, the rates of commercial motor tax on larger goods vehicles are being reduced. The resolution provides for the reduction to apply to all goods vehicles with an unladen weight exceeding 4,000 kg and will take effect for vehicle licences taken out on or after the commencement date of 1 January 2016. The reductions are tapered from a reduction of €4,295 for the heaviest goods vehicle band to a reduction of €43 annually for vehicles between 4,001 kg and 5,000 kg. The rates structure is also being simplified, with five bands of motor tax, ranging from the current level of €92 per annum for electric goods vehicles to €900 per annum for all goods vehicles in excess of 12,000 kg. The change will benefit the owners of more than 28,000 goods vehicles. This is an interim measure pending the replacement of the current basis of taxation for goods vehicles on unladen weight which is out of line with the basis of taxation in other countries and replacing it with a fairer system of calculation based on gross design vehicle weight. There are no other changes to motor tax for any other category of vehicle.