The House of Representatives last week agreed to the addition regulation proposed by State Secretary Eric Wiebes for the transition year 2016. Last Thursday, white smoke circled from the Binnenhof. That signal means good news for the young-timer sector. It also offers the old-timer lobby an extra handle, although the Senate still has to approve the plans.
Industry-wide support
Last week Eric Wiebes decided to give his approval to a branch-wide proposed proposition for the so-called interim year 2016. The proposal that has now been approved by the Lower House also means that the addition for new Plug-In hybrids has been increased to 15%. Lessees who drive a car in 2016 that emits between 51 grams CO2 per km and 106 grams CO2 per km pay 21% addition. The 25% rate applies in 2016 for cars that emit more than 106 grams of CO2 per km.
Young timers out of shot
The addition regulation for young timers remains unchanged. Lease drivers of cars with an age of 15 years and older also pay in 2016 35% on the market value. The youngtimer will prove to be an attractive and generally better quality alternative to the new lease car. The industry can be relieved now that the House of Representatives has embraced Eric Wiebes' intention to leave the young timer undisturbed. At the same time, the sector can also start considering scenarios for the years after 2016. In fact, the 2.0 Autobrief - which will probably be presented next summer and in which all new fiscal car measures are described - mentions the policy for the years 2017-2019. It is still unclear what politics intends to do with the young and old heritage when it comes to the addition.
Tax incentive for "clean" driving less prominent
It is clear, however, that the tax incentive for "clean" driving is being used less actively by The Hague politicians. The adjustment of the rates for the initially massively stimulated hybrids and plug-in hybrid is an indication of the fact that these vehicles serve the environment less than intended, partly thanks to the use and disappointing electrical capacity. But especially the fact that the youngtimer is left alone indicates that the original environmental objectives have been applied from a wrong angle.
Young car timer negligible impact
Whether politicians in The Hague are aware of it or not: the polluting influence of the young and old-timers on the environment appears to be negligible. Studies show that it is not the older vehicles that generate more CO2 emissions that put the quality of life under pressure. The particulate matter production of these vehicles is negligible. Modern injection technologies also appear to generate substances that are many times more harmful compared to the emissions of older motor vehicles, and the total (Dutch) vehicle fleet generates much more particulate matter from tires and brakes. In view of the small share of (diesel) young and old-timers within the total motor vehicle file, it can therefore be said from an environmental point of view that leaving the young timer untouched in the addition rules for 2016 is a logical decision.
Additional asset for old-timer lobby
It is also a measure that gives the oldtimer lobby an extra trump card, and must be included in the test processes initiated by the Autobelangen Foundation. These are - with the cooperation of the tax authorities - brought against the State. These processes were started to reverse the MRB rules that were amended as of 1 January 2014, because the environmental principle was one of the reasons for scrapping the old exemption regulation. Now that politicians in The Hague have taken a certain degree of distance in the addition to the environmental stimulus, established on the wrong grounds, new possibilities are created to persuade State Secretary Wiebes and his entourage to return to the scheme that worked excellently: the exemption scheme such as that was valid until January 1, 2014.
Senate must grant approval
The Senate will still have to give its approval when considering the plans. The plan will be discussed in the Senate in mid-December. However, it is expected - certainly because the measures have only been formulated for one year - that approval will then also be granted.