Moving the environment tax stamp within the fuel cost will bring consumers and hauliers an additional cost of over 1%, increasing inflation.
If until now the tax, considered illegal by the European Union, was paid by car buyers, the government now intends to disguise it within the cost of fuel. Thus, the interministerial working group formed to find a solution for reimbursing the environmental stamp seems to have reached a decision – according to government sources cited by cursdeguvernare.ro.
The solution lies in amending the legislation to the principle of “polluter pays” so that car buyers will no longer have to pay the fee.
According to the same sources, it will add 5 bani (0,05 RON) per liter of fuel, money that will go to accounts administered by the Ministry of Environment – authority has refunded the fees charged so far.
But while a liter of fuel approaches 5 lei, the surge would amount to about 1%, plus the value added tax – another example of double energy taxation, after excises.
The Court of Justice of the European Union decided on June 9, 2016 that the first registration tax levied by Romania car buyers is illegal in terms of EU law after Romania extended it to new cars to avoid discrimination for which it had been once more condemned.
Once established the source of funding, the ministry group will also determine how and for how long the amounts will be repaid by those who will claim it.
