EU ends Malta proceedings on vehicle registration tax
The European Commission has formally closed infringement proceedings against Malta concerning the registration tax on second hand vehicles that originate from other Member States.
Well over half of new vehicle registrations in Malta involve imported used cars.
"Following a thorough analysis of the legal issues at stake in this case, and on the basis of all the information it had gathered, the Commission has found that the registration tax applied in Malta is in line with EU law," the Department of Information quoted the Commission as saying.
During this infringement procedure, the Commission focused on principles of EU tax law, and concluded that the new registration tax legislation, introduced in 2009 for private vehicles and 2010 for commercial vehicles, is fully in line with EU legal principles as it takes the actual value of a vehicle fully into account at the moment of registration, applying depreciation in a transparent manner.
The new registration tax system also informs the taxpayer and the general public of the criteria used for the determination of the taxable value of vehicles, providing the public with the opportunity to challenge the registration tax due when an individual disagrees with the authorities on the assessment of the value of used vehicles.
It is pertinent to note, the DOI said, that after the closure by the European Commission of the infringement related to the inclusion of the motor vehicles registration tax in the VAT base on 1 October 2009, there remain no outstanding infringements related to the taxation of vehicles in Malta.
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Albert Bezzina
Oct 27th 2011, 18:11
The DOI said that it is pertinent to note that after the closure by the European Commission of the infringement related to the inclusion of the motor vehicles registration tax in the VAT base on 1 October 2009, there remain no outstanding infringements related to the taxation of vehicles in Malta.
It is also pertinant to note that between the day Malta became a member of the EU and the day when the registration tax on motor vehicles was over hauled on the Ist January 2009 the tax regime which had evolved during the time of bulk buying and depravation was retained in a manner which WAS incompatable with the requirements of EU regulationsprimarily Article 90 EC.
No matter what the DOI sees pertinant to point out, there is still a period of just under 4 years, when motor vehicles were taxed in an irregular manner which did not take into consideration the priciple of depreciation and charged VAT on an irregularly worked out registration tax.
If anybody thinks that the authorities changed the tax regime because of their buona volonta they can continue to live in Teletubie land. The tax regime was changed because IT WAS irregularly implimented, ergo, from the day we became EU members until 01/01/2009, the tax regime which was present was illegal.
Ivan Gatt
Oct 27th 2011, 18:51
Well said Dottore.
Alfred Fenech
Oct 27th 2011, 16:09
Ma taghmlu xejn. It works both ways.
Karl Abela
Oct 27th 2011, 16:00
Guys, read before you speak. This has got nothing to do with queueing at Mile End. This is another issue.
TIP: switch to another TV station rather than super one. You are missing on alot of information.
Deo Catania
Oct 27th 2011, 16:33
Really? tell us what we are missing then. Should we watch and believe everything Peppi Azzopardi and Lou Bondi tell us?
Victor Laiviera
Oct 27th 2011, 18:02
Erm .... haven't you got it the wrong way round? It will be NET TV which will try to mix the issues to make it seem that the LP and Muscat have been contradicted by the EU - when this is not the case at all.
Lawrence Fenech
Oct 27th 2011, 18:57
@Abela
On the contrary, switch on the Super one to get to know all the h--- ta' dan il-Gvern which you do not get to know on the other stations controlled by GonziPN.
Tony Agius
Oct 27th 2011, 15:43
Ma nahsibx li Joseph Muscat tkellem ghal tal karozzi godda biss, allahares, mela tas second hand mhux new registration ukoll . Nispera li issa mhux gej xi partita loghob bil kliem . Jiena xorta ghandi dubju kemm ser jghatina dak li wghedna hekk qisu xejn m'hu xejn.
Deo Catania
Oct 27th 2011, 15:53
Loghob bil-kliem minn naha tieghek gej u mhux minn naha ta' Joseph Muscat/PL. Il-kwistjoni ta' Joseph Muscat titratta VAT fuq registration tax fuq karozzi kemm godda kif ukoll second hand minn meta Malta saret membru fl-EU. Il-kaz ta' hawn fuq jitratta biss sistema ta' registration tax fuq karozzi second hand mill-EU bis-sistema l-gdida li bdiet 01-Jannar-2009.
Deo Catania
Oct 27th 2011, 15:01
Joe Mallia and Mario Allison........... The case above relates to second hand imports under the new registration system which started on 1st January 2009. What Dr Joseph Muscat is fighting for is VAT on registration tax (money which gonzipn stole from us) since Malta became a member of the EU.
Karl Abela
Oct 27th 2011, 16:15
Deo, nobody stole anything from you.
You signed a cheque for a brand new car voluntarily because you afforded it. According to Joseph Muscat, stealing is when someone takes something away from you without your permission, such as a password to access your emails.
In any case, since when are labour propagandists so eager to enforce EU regulations? Did you forget how fierce you were against Malta's accession to the EU? Power is so sweet and labour want it at all costs, even at the expense of almost ruining Malta's chances to be an EU member. Now these same people are so fashionably in favour of EU. Oh what a bunch of hyprocits this country has to deal with.
Mario allison
Oct 27th 2011, 16:39
thank you deo.do you speak on behalf of the PL?
Deo Catania
Oct 27th 2011, 17:52
Kark, if a tax was not supposed to be collected but it was then yes it's stealing. And anyhow, just because someone affords to buy a humble run of the mill brand new car does not justify the government stealing that person.
Mario, no I'm not speaking on behalf of the PL and neither on behalf of Dr Joseph Muscat, what I wrote is something simple called 'truth'
Carlo Borg
Oct 27th 2011, 20:42
My dear friend. No is going to take the money back as Joseph Muscat was on the wrong side. Nothing was stolen. In fact he sued our government and also the EU in seperate cases. He already lost the one of the EU, as far as I know. So I predict that also the one against our government, Joseph Muscat will loose it.
Carmel Cilia
Oct 27th 2011, 14:59
Skuzi ta imma dak inhar mhux fuq il-karozzi second hand biss kienet il-bicca izda fuq il-karozzi kolla anke dawk godda. Jista xi hadd iffisser ezatt din l-affari ghandhiex x'taqsam ma li gara dak inhar ghax jidher illi hawn min ghandu interess li hawwadni ha nifmhek. Jekk ikolli nghid dik kienet affari ohra. Il-P.L ghandu johrog spjegazzjoni fuq din il bicca..
Joe Mallia
Oct 27th 2011, 14:36
And after the decision, what is going to happen from the data we gave to PL?
Joe Abela
Oct 27th 2011, 15:01
you dont have to worry because joseph muscat the last time he was interviewed by norman hamilton on bla agenda and asked him about this issue he said that he will give back the money when he will be in government so that wont be that long to wait because this will happen very soon
Deo Catania
Oct 27th 2011, 15:49
Nobody forced you to give your data to PL. If you did it simply means you agree that gonzipn stole your money.
Tony Agius
Oct 27th 2011, 16:43
The End Justify The Means. First you give Joseph Muscat your vote , and then he will tell you. I am very sorry , you have to forget the money I promised you , but it is not my falt . But he will probably steal them from every one else to give them to you.
Mario allison
Oct 27th 2011, 14:29
Does that mean that the que at mile end was in vain ? My god was it hot that day!! :-)
Victor Laiviera
Oct 27th 2011, 15:20
This is a separate issue - nothing whatsoever to do with that.