Taxation: Commission refers Ireland to the Court of Justice for failing to amend its car tax legislation
The European Commission is referring Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union because the car tax applied to rented and leased vehicles is not in line with EU rules.
More specifically, Ireland is currently infringing EU law in the way it applies tax to vehicles that are either rented or leased. Under EU rules, car tax should be levied on Irish residents according to the precise duration that the vehicle is leased in another Member State, provided that the duration can be determined (e.g. on the basis of a leasing or rental contract).
Ireland is infringing the European Union law by levying the full amount of car tax, even though the amount levied in excess is refunded at a later stage, once the vehicle is registered in another country.
The Irish legislation creates a disproportionate obstacle to the freedom to provide services for leasing and rental companies in other Member States that wish to offer their services to Irish residents.
Background
The Commission sent a request taking the form of a reasoned opinion to Ireland on 27 February 2015, asking Ireland to amend its legislation. As the national legislation was not amended, the case is now being referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
More information:
General information on infringement proceedings in the areas of taxation and customs
General information on ongoing infringement proceedings
Information on the procedures itself
On the July infringements package decisions, see MEMO/15/5356
On the general infringement procedure, see MEMO/12/12
For more information on infringement procedures: http://ec.europa.eu/eu_law/infringements/infringements_en.htm
IP/15/5355
Press contacts
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-Vanessa MOCK (+32 2 295 61 94)
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-Audrey AUGIER (+32 2 297 16 07)
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-Johannes BAHRKE (+32 2 295 86 15)
General public inquiries:
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