What is Vehicle and Vessel Tax?
2 Answers
Vehicle and Vessel Tax is a type of tax levied on the owners or managers of vehicles and vessels, with the vehicles and vessels themselves as the taxable objects. The vehicles and vessels referred to here are those that should be registered with the vehicle and vessel administration departments according to law. In China, the applicable tax amounts are implemented in accordance with the tax item amount table of the Vehicle and Vessel Tax. The financial department and the competent tax authority of the State Council may, according to actual conditions, divide sub-tax items within the prescribed tax item scope and tax amount range, and clarify the tax amount range of sub-tax items for vehicles and the specific applicable tax amounts for vessels. The specific applicable tax amounts for vehicles are determined by the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government within the prescribed tax amount range of sub-tax items.
As an average car owner, the vehicle and vessel tax is essentially an annual mandatory expense for me. It's a fixed tax levied by the government on vehicle owners, primarily calculated based on engine displacement, aiming to accumulate public funds for projects like road maintenance or environmental initiatives. I remember when I first bought a car, the salesperson reminded me that vehicles with smaller displacements have lower tax rates. For instance, my 1.5L sedan costs about five to six hundred yuan per year, while larger-displacement SUVs can exceed a thousand yuan. Payment is usually completed during the annual vehicle inspection. Forgetting to pay this tax can lead to serious trouble, as it would prevent passing the inspection. It's not just about the money; it also encourages people to choose energy-efficient vehicles, reducing pollution burdens. Although it's not pleasant, I find it reasonable since driving consumes road resources. Paying attention to displacement information can save money and be eco-friendly.
