AP Assembly: Bill to hike vehicle taxes to net an extra Rs 409 cr passed

In 2019-20, the state collected Rs 4.85 crore as Green Tax on transport and non-transport vehicles but, with the new enactment, it hopes to garner an additional revenue of Rs 50 crore per annum.As per the amendment Bill, Rs 2,000 will be charged as Green Tax on motorcycles aged above 15 years, for a five-year period.For motorcycles above 20 years, the Green Tax will be Rs 5,000.

Amaravati, Nov 24 (PTI): The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed the AP Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2021, for enhancing the tax on motor vehicles and net an additional revenue of Rs 409.58 crore per annum.

Significant in the amended law will be the multi-fold increase in the so-called 'Green Tax' on aged vehicles, making it a disincentive to continue their usage.

Karnataka now tops the southern states in taxes on motor vehicles and now, with the new amended law, AP too joins its neighbour.

Moving the Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Bill, Transport Minister Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) claimed it has been proposed to 'rationalise' the rates of life tax (on vehicles) in view of growing inflation and also the increasing need to improve road infrastructure, road safety and anti-pollution measures.

The Green Tax was last revised in the year 2006.

There are 4.17 lakh transport vehicles (excluding autos and goods carriages) aged over seven years and another 20.31 lakh non-transport vehicles aged over 15 years in the state. In 2019-20, the state collected Rs 4.85 crore as Green Tax on transport and non-transport vehicles but, with the new enactment, it hopes to garner an additional revenue of Rs 50 crore per annum.

As per the amendment Bill, Rs 2,000 will be charged as Green Tax on motorcycles aged above 15 years, for a five-year period.

For motorcycles above 20 years, the Green Tax will be Rs 5,000. The existing rate is only Rs 250 for five years.

For other vehicles, the Green Tax will be charged at Rs 5,000 (aged above 15 years) and Rs 10,000 (above 20 years), the previous rate being only Rs 500.

''The rationalisation of Green Tax is to discourage older vehicles from plying on the roads,'' the Transport Minister said.

On two-wheelers costing up to Rs 50,000, the tax rate of nine per cent has not been changed but, on those valued above Rs 50,000, the life tax has been enhanced to 12 per cent to net an additional Rs 163 crore to the government.

For cars, the tax rates have been hiked by one per cent (up to Rs 5 lakh), two per cent (up to Rs 10 lakh), three per cent (up to Rs 20 lakh) and four per cent (above Rs 20 lakh).

Meanwhile, the Assembly also passed another Bill to further amend the AP Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1956, making it mandatory for exhibitors to sell movie tickets only through the online booking platform, to be operated by the state Film Development Corporation.

The Bill replaces an Ordinance issued on November 9.

Moving the Bill on behalf of the Chief Minister, Perni Nani, who also holds the Information and Public Relations portfolio, said the proposed online movie booking system would help in checking black marketing, besides stopping tax evasion.

''The government decided to enhance the movie theatre experience by introducing a seamless online booking system, on the lines of Indian Railways. It caters to people without any hassle, saves time, reduces traffic problems and pollution,'' the Minister said.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)