PHILIPSBURG--The draft legislation for the increase in motor vehicle tax is tentatively scheduled to be handled in a meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament on Thursday, December 10.
Former Finance Minister Martin Hassink had submitted the draft legislation to Governor Eugene Holiday before he left office. The draft legislation was also taken along the route, including the Council of Advice.
President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams said the draft was received by Parliament on November 25, and the first handling is tentatively scheduled for next Thursday, depending on the availability of Finance Minister Richard Gibson.
The draft legislation proposes an 18.18- per cent increase in motor vehicle tax. The draft legislation proposes that the motor vehicle tax for motorists with number plates M, P, SXM, MR (ministers) and PAR (parliament), which currently stands at NAf. 275 for gas-operated vehicles be increased to NAf. 325, and for diesel-operated ones, from NAf. 750 to NAf. 885.
It is proposed that the tax for R plates that currently stands at NAf. 300 for gas- operated vehicles be increased to NAf. 355 and for diesel-operated vehicles to go up from NAf. 750 to NAf. 885 per annum. Taxis, BUS, G (group), T (tour busses with 35 passengers or less) is proposed to be increased from NAf. 275 for gas-operated vehicles to NAf. 325, and from NAf. 550 to NAf. 650 for diesel-operated vehicles.
Tax for vehicles with V and Z plates, that weigh more than 3,500kg, is proposed to go up from NAf. 1,250 to NAf. 1,475 per annum for gas- or diesel-operated vehicles.
The tax for vehicles with V plates, that weigh less than 3,500kg, is proposed to go up from NAf. 275 for gas-operated vehicles to NAf. 325, and from NAf. 750 for diesel- operated vehicles to NAf. 885. The fee for MF (motorbike) plates is proposed to go up from NAf. 200 to NAf. 235 and MF (mopeds) is proposed to be increased from NAf. 50 to NAf. 60.
The draft legislation is proposed to be retroactive from January 1, 2016. In the meantime, the price for the number plates is expected to remain the same at NAf. 12.50 for all types of vehicles and NAf. 7.50 for motorbikes.