SFA Blasts Proposed Road Tax

Business & Finance - Industry

Tuesday, 24 August 2010 10:44

Written by Noel Cotter

The Director of the Small Firms Association, Avine McNally, has said that the proposal by Minister John Gormley to order local authorities to force commercial drivers and small vans to legally declare that they will not use them for domestic or pleasure purposes is ‘another nail in the coffin for small business’.

McNally warned that small business cannot afford to accept a situation in which national exchequer cuts in current spending result in a "raft of stealth taxes".

She continued: “Whilst the recent announcement of the cuts in current spending by the Minister for Finance are necessary, this is not an excuse for the various other Departments to levy additional charges on the small business community.”

“The Government seem to forget that small firms are the backbone of the Irish economy, they are different and important – important because they create jobs and different because they are managed by people who are willing to take risks even in difficult times.”

McNally concluded “It has been stated that this proposal would be difficult to enforce and I question would it not be better for Government to focus their attention on actions and initiatives that would assist not hinder small firms!”

Meanwhile, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has said there has been no change in motor tax regime for commercial vehicles.

It said it issued a circular on the rules and regulations regarding motor tax for commercial vehicles, earlier this month, following an increase in the number of vehicles switching from private motor tax classes to commercial vehicle classes. Owners of vehicles currently taxed for commercial purposes face no additional requirements regarding forms or declarations.