Chinese public hope tax to be lowered in draft law on vehicle, boat taxation
- Source: Xinhua
- [09:25 December 15 2010]
- Comments
More than half of the Chinese public have voiced the hope that taxes would be reduced on vehicles and boats as the country's top legislature discontinued soliciting opinions for the draft law on vehicle and boat taxation.
According to a statement released Tuesday by the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, 97,295 comments, along with 40 letters, had been received as of Nov. 30, after the draft law opened to public comments one month ago.
Figures show that about 37 percent of the comments are in favor of the draft law, and some 55 percent hoped the law could reduce taxes.
About 8.61 percent opposed the law.
Some people voiced their concerns that the draft law might result in price hikes and heavier burdens for auto and boat owners in the name of legislation, noting that, currently, about 40 percent of the total price of a vehicle is for various taxes.
Others suggested tax reductions be broadened to vehicles with 2.0 liter engine capacities. The current draft law reduces taxes for vehicles of only 1.0L or lower engine capacities, which only covers a small number of vehicles.
Calling the country's current taxation on vehicles "comparatively higher," professor Shi Zhengwen from the Beijing-based China University of Political Science and Law said that it was not appropriate to further increase the tax.
Shi called for reducing the existing taxation categories for vehicles and boats while lowering the basic tax value in a bid to level or lower the overall tax amounts for owners.
Passed at an executive meeting of the State Council, China's cabinet, on Oct. 12, the draft law is set to replace current tax regulations on vehicles and boats that took effect in 2007.
The draft law reduces taxes on energy-savings and clean energy-powered vehicles, and increases taxes on large cars.
China defines motor vehicles as motorcycles, tractors, trucks and cars. The country has 199 million motor vehicles on its roads, including more than 85 million automobiles.
