Combines ‘on road’ for just six weeks are liable for full yearly road tax
GALWAY farm leaders have hit out at the unfairness of the annual road tax system that’s in place for combines and self-propelled silage harvesters, even though they are only on the road for a couple of months each year.
After a week in which the queues for motor tax at Galway County Hall stretched out onto the footpaths at Bohermore, there has been considerable anger expressed at how the issue was handled by the Dept. of the Environment.
Bertie Roche, Chairman of the IFA’s Environmental Committee, told the Farming Tribune that the attitude of Environment Minister, Phil Hogan, in stubbornly refusing to grant an extension of the tax deadline date was ‘extremely disappointing’.
“I think that if the Minister announced over the weekend that the deadline was being extended for a couple of weeks, it would have prevented the kind of chaos people experienced this week.
“It wasn’t fair on the Council staff either, who did their level best to cope with the queues but the numbers were too much. A bit of common sense from the Minister, could have sorted this out,” said Bertie Roche.
IFA Grain Committee Chairman, Eamonn Burke, said that there was an inequity in the tax regime that applied to combine harvesters and self propelled silage harvesters.
“In the case of combines, they are only on the road for a couple of hours a day for a maximum of a six weeks period, yet there is no provision there for them to make a quarterly payment.
“For contractors the annual road tax rate for these machines comes in at over €300 and there is real inequity there at having to tax such vehicles for a full year,” said Eamonn Burke.
Concerns have also been raised at the high tax rate for quads or ATVs, also in the €300 plus bracket, for machines that are used most of the time on land.
Meanwhile there is also confusion over the testing regime and details that will apply to people who have to sit the ‘car and trailer test’ over the coming weeks and months.
Bertie Roche has advised farmers to contact the RSA (Road Safety Authority) Office in Loughrea in relation to any queries they have as regards the trailer licence stipulation.
“I’ve had a lot queries over recent weeks from farmers who cannot get details of this test. They are wondering where the test has to be carried out and they don’t know any details about the test centres,” said Bertie Roche.
The RSA Office in Loughrea can be contacted on lo-call: 1890-443-311 or email: www.transport.ie