No rules have changed or are likely to change in relation to the taxation of commercial vehicles, the Department of the Environment said today.
The department was commenting on reports that Minister for the Environment John Gormley had initiated a crackdown on private usage of commercial vehicles, in a move which could cost owners up to €900 per year in increased road tax.
The department said those availing of reduced levels of road tax for commercial vehicles had been required “for decades” to sign a declaration at their local Garda stations that they would not use the vehicle “for social domestic or pleasure purposes”.
However, it acknowledged a circular issued to motor tax offices this month contained a change in the requirements for proof that the applicant was engaged in commercial activity.
The change required the applicant should produce their Revenue registration identity number, to confirm they had a business registered for tax purposes, when taxing a commercial vehicle for the first time.
A spokesman for Mr Gormley insisted that this was not a change in the taxation rules, but simply a requirement for supporting proof of an applicant’s commercial status.
While the spokesman acknowledged the rules forbade the use of commercial vehicles for social, domestic and pleasure purposes, he said this situation had been in place under many different governments.
The circular was issued to reinforce the existing position in relation to goods vehicles, in the light of growing numbers of private cars being reclassified as goods vehicles, including 4X4 vehicles which are often expensive to tax.
Speaking in Dublin, Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan also insisted that there have been no changes to the current motor tax system.
“There’s nothing new in what Minister Gormley is doing. The Department of the Environment regularly put out circulars just setting out the rules," he said. “That’s done on absolutely a routine basis, that’s what happened in this case, there’s no new regulations, no new changes, there is nothing new, there is no change, no additional tax by the Green Party or anyone else.
“It is the law as was yesterday, as was last year as was for many years. There has been no change, nothing different in what people should do under the law.”