Brussels tells Spain to raise diesel tax by August or face fine
Brussels is forcing Spain to raise VAT on diesel from 10% to 21% before August or pay 475 million in fines. The fuel rebate and the end of the…
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Brussels orders Spain to raise diesel tax by August or face multimillion-euro fine
Think your diesel bill is already expensive? Brace yourself: Brussels is demanding Spain make a tax hike before August or face a record fine. The Spanish Government will have to raise VAT on diesel from 10% to 21%, though it will partially offset this with a 20-cent cut in the hydrocarbons tax and the abolition of the electricity generation levy (7%).
The measure, part of the EU's fiscal demands, seeks to align diesel taxation with that of petrol. According to the figures cited, the cost of non-compliance to the public purse would be 475 million euros in fines. However, the impact on road haulage, which in Spain runs almost exclusively on diesel, could send inflation soaring. While some see a necessary correction, others denounce yet another hit to drivers' wallets.
So there you have it: if you own an old diesel, the ticking you hear isn't the engine, it's the tax office's clock.
Think your diesel bill is already expensive? Brace yourself: Brussels is demanding Spain make a tax hike before August or face a record fine. The Spanish Government will have to raise VAT on diesel from 10% to 21%, though it will partially offset this with a 20-cent cut in the hydrocarbons tax and the abolition of the electricity generation levy (7%).
The measure, part of the EU's fiscal demands, seeks to align diesel taxation with that of petrol. According to the figures cited, the cost of non-compliance to the public purse would be 475 million euros in fines. However, the impact on road haulage, which in Spain runs almost exclusively on diesel, could send inflation soaring. While some see a necessary correction, others denounce yet another hit to drivers' wallets.
So there you have it: if you own an old diesel, the ticking you hear isn't the engine, it's the tax office's clock.
Also available in: Deutsch
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (29 replies).
More summaries
-
End of the EV free ride: per-mile tax on the horizon
After rising charging costs, a per-mile tax for electric cars is coming. Governments want to recover what they lose on fuel duties.
-
Heating oil: fill the tank now or wait?
Heating oil prices jump 7 cents in days: filling a 1,500-litre tank now costs over €100 extra. When it pays to wait.
-
Tampering with electricity: risk, fines, and the dilemma of energy fraud
With high electricity prices, electrical fraud is on the rise. Fines of up to 2,000 euros and new detection technologies are involved. Is the risk worth it?
-
Stuck Faucet Eccentric: Limescale, Hemp, and DIY Fixes
A faucet eccentric stuck by decades of limescale and hemp. Discover which remedies work (vinegar, torch, wrench) and when to call a plumber.
-
Losing a marker cap can push you to buy more
Losing the cap of your shopping-list marker triggers a spending impulse. Digital or paper? The dilemma of planning without overspending.
-
Homemade mini torches: emergency fix or burn hazard
DIY paraffin mini torches burn for up to 30 minutes, but the risk of burns and the lack of a proper handle make them a controversial option. Are they wo