UK Petrol Tax Jumps At Twice Euro Average

Loco

British drivers have been hit by petrol tax rises running at twice the average rate across Europe, new data shows.


The AA said VAT on a tank of petrol in the UK has gone up 11.46% since the pre-Budget report at the end of November 2008.


That is over five times the increase seen in Austria and more than double the 5.07% average rise in 10 mainstream European countries, including France, Germany and Holland.


For UK diesel car owners, the fuel tax burden has increased 8.10% - marginally lower than the 8.33% in Ireland but almost three times the European average.


The AA also pointed to the fact that from April 1, UK drivers will face earlier-announced petrol pump increases that could add another 2.5p a litre to the price of petrol and diesel.


AA president Edmund King said: "Our research shows that most other

European countries have resisted such fuel tax hikes over the past 15 months, and they have also had to deal with the fallout from the credit crunch.


"The Treasury admitted in the last pre-Budget report that the impact of higher fuel prices on demand will lower fuel duty receipts in 2009/10 by £0.2bn below forecast."


Mr King added that the planned April 1 increase "could do more harm than good to the public purse, economic recovery, hauliers and car owners".


A Treasury spokesman said: "The Government acted decisively to support the economy during the downturn and has set out the action it will take to halve the deficit over four years once recovery is secured.


"Alongside other tax measures and slower spending growth, fuel duty increases are an important part of this deficit reduction plan, as well as supporting the Government's environmental agenda."


http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/uk-petrol-tax-jumps-at-twice-euro-average-skynews-e3fdd28c8dcf.html

roddydogs

So what would you like the extra Tax to go on, if not Petrol.?

peter_the_piper

Tax the diesel used by private yacht and boat owners for a start, then give road hauliers a way of claiming the duty back. Fuel duty on lorries etc comes back to us all so we get charged even if we don't drive.

matt1987

I could think of a lot of things to tax, instead of an essential like fuel.

This could be cigarettes, alcohol, and also confectionary. Could also hike taxes up on huge cars that most people dont need!

davemorton

matt1987 wrote: »

I could think of a lot of things to tax, instead of an essential like fuel.

This could be cigarettes, alcohol, and also confectionary. Could also hike taxes up on huge cars that most people dont need!

But I like cigarettes, booze and sweetys, so that would be unfair on me, Why not tax salads as I dont like them!:beer:

Kilty_2

davemorton wrote: »

But I like cigarettes, booze and sweetys, so that would be unfair on me, Why not tax salads as I dont like them!:beer:

:rotfl::rotfl:

Yeah THAT'LL solve the obesity crisis - tax the healthy to pay for their healthcare :T

davemorton

Kilty wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl:

Yeah THAT'LL solve the obesity crisis - tax the healthy to pay for their healthcare :T

Well looking at it the other way, they live longer so in theory, should have to pay more tax.

Andy_L

Loco wrote: »

British drivers have been hit by petrol tax rises running at twice the average rate across Europe, new data shows.


The AA said VAT on a tank of petrol in the UK has gone up 11.46% since the pre-Budget report at the end of November 2008.


That is over five times the increase seen in Austria and more than double the 5.07% average rise in 10 mainstream European countries, including France, Germany and Holland.

However, also according to the AA, we're number 11 in the "most expensive petrol in Europe chart". perhaps tax isn't everything?

anewman

Yep what good is your Government-funded scrappage deal car if you can't afford to fill it up anymore?

gilbert_and_sullivan

Easy answer if you don't like how the government of the day operates taxation vote them out and vote for someone with whom you do agree....remembering they all tell you what you want to hear until they've got your vote then they'll ignore you and fill their back pockets till the next election.

As a country we don't make anything so we've nothing to sell and we keep spending and giving away money like it's going out of fashion so someone's got to pay and it won't be the politicians responsible or the people who own the country, the motorist always has been an easy target.

Inactive

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Easy answer if you don't like how the government of the day operates taxation vote them out and vote for someone with whom you do agree....remembering they all tell you what you want to hear until they've got your vote then they'll ignore you and fill their back pockets till the next election.



There is the problem, I don't trust any of them, I don't agree with any of them.:(