Local tax authorities in Beijing have decided to suspend the
vehicle and vessel tax originally scheduled to begin July 1.
This move is remarkable because it displays the policymakers'
willingness to listen to public opinion. More important, it gives
local tax authorities the opportunity to better align their policy
with the national strategy of conserving energy and protecting the
environment.
China began to enforce the Interim Regulations on Vehicle and
Vessel Tax on January 1. The interim regulations replaced the
vehicle and ship license plate tax and vehicle and vessel use tax
collected for decades.
The Beijing municipal government spent half a year developing
detailed rules on implementing the country's interim regulations on
vehicle and vessel tax. Yet, when recently released, the draft
rules drew strong public opposition for raising the tax on all
sedan cars from 200 yuan (US$26) to 480 yuan (US$63) a year. The
new vehicle and vessel tax was raised, according to the State
Administration of Taxation, to help implement the State's policies
on energy saving and environmental protection.
As the nation accelerates its pace to go mobile, the growth in
the number of privately owned vehicles has led to an increase in
emission discharges and put heavy pressure on China's energy supply
and the environment.
A hike in the vehicle and vessel tax is highly recommended since
it can help raise public awareness of the increasing environmental
cost the country is paying.
Opposition by some car-owners to a hike in the vehicle tax might
be dismissed as just a selfish reaction. But the suggestion by many
people that small and energy-efficient cars should be taxed less
than big oil-guzzling cars does justify serious consideration by
tax authorities. A greener tax policy is needed to reward
energy-saving consumers.
The country has drawn up a series of plans to raise energy
efficiency and cut polluting emissions. The success of these plans,
to a large extent, depends on aggressive local implementation.
The new vehicle and vessel tax may not be a big issue in terms
of the amount of the tax, but local tax authorities can seize the
chance to make taxation polices greener.
(China Daily July 2, 2007)