Superbollo, no it’s not a big end of the season football match! Let me explain. Lately this superbollo has been getting a lot of press and it answers a lot of questions for me. Cars in Italy are taxed on the horsepower of the engine, or to be exact the kilowatts of the engine. The magic number is 100 kilowatts or 134 HP. Every car new and old is taxed for every kw (HP) at one rate, up to 100 kw (134 HP) after that the rate goes up. This is the superbollo, the tax over 100 kw. Lately the new government decided that if you can have a powerful car then you could afford to pay MORE taxes, so the superbollo is creating a stir, as nobody likes more taxes and more people have been buying more powerful cars.
One of the quotes I heard from Prodi could be translated to “If everyone pays the tax then maybe we could lower it in the future” (I hope I translated it right). So he’s going to tax the nice law abating people back to the Stone Age but those that don’t pay, well, now they are saving even more. I think more people will decide a less than honest approach when facing more taxes. I have to say I like the method in the US where you pay based on the value of the car. I can’t imagine someone with big old 5.0L 1982 Ford Mustang paying more taxes than some yuppie with a BMW. Yes I appreciate how this helps the environment but I dislike taxes that aren’t connected to right thing. And to me this doesn’t seem to be the right way. Something about that just doesn’t seem right.
Now I can respond when people ask me “Why are all the cars so small over here?” An ape with a lawnmower engine would cost almost nothing to have and it still gets you around town. An SUV will cost a fortune.
Oh and by the way they are also passing a new “tourism tax”. Hotels in the cities will be throwing on another 5 euro a night in taxes. The smaller communes are supposed to go 2 or 3 euro. I can’t remember exactly. This money is supposed to go to the upkeep of local tourism attractions. If that’s true then I’m all for it. Everyone agrees that Italian Museums and wealth of cultural history needs more upkeep
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Jeez, jeff, since when did you become so anit-taxes. Taxes are what paid for your education and the roads you drive on. The police and fire departments that protect you. You sound like an old rich republican. If someone can afford a big engine SUV, then what's the big deal about paying more taxes. SUVs put more pressure on roads than a little cinquecentro. Not too mention the emmission difference. Just cause I disagree with you doesn't mean you shouldn't bring me chocolate from Italy...
Your loving sis
The christmas chocolate is on sale at Auchan now but I'm paying too much taxes to buy you some!!! Hey! I took a test online and I'm a "Centrist".
Funny thing is the tourism tax was axed yeterday as I was writing that. No extra hotel tax! Italy was afraid what it would do to tourism.
Jeffo
Post a Comment