Govt withdraws Vehicle Luxury Tax

Government has withdrawn the luxury vehicle tax which was introduced last year.

The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta, made this known Monday when he presented the mid-year budget review in Parliament.

He said, “We have noted suggestions from the general public on the implementation of this tax. As a listening government, we are proposing to the House, the withdrawal of the levy.”

“We will continue to improve compliance, expand the tax net and explore other innovative sources of raising revenue,” he added.

The luxury vehicle tax was introduced in July last year to levy vehicles with big engine capacities in line with the sustainable development goals to control emissions and reduce the impact on climate change.

Vehicles with engine capacities of 3.0 – 3.5 litres were to pay an annual tax of GH¢1,000.00; those with engine capacities of 3.6 – 4.0 litres will pay GH¢1,500.00 annually and 4.1 litres and above are to pay an annual tax of GH¢2000.00.

However, almost a year to its implementation, the levy had been met with opposition from many stakeholders.

A coalition of car dealers and owners in March  staged a demonstration against the luxury vehicle tax with a call on government to rethink the tax.

Target missed

Government had projected a GH¢136.53 million revenue from the tax.

However, revenue collected yielded only GH¢30.19 million in the first quarter of this year.