▪ German tax tit-for-tat
Page 15
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but quota raised
By way of retaliation for the high rate of taxation on foreign vehicles entering Britain the West German Government has substantially increased from January 1 next the tax on British vehicles entering or passing through.
The amount to be paid depends on the gross weight. It will be DM3 or 6s 3d for vehicles up to 74--ton: DM9 or 18s 9d (up to 15-ton); DfV116 or £1 13s 4d (up to 20-ton); and DM25 or £2 12s 1d (over 20-ton). These are daily rates but because operators visiting Britain have to pay at least one month's tax the German demand will also be on a monthly basis. The minimum payment even for a single trip or transit will therefore range from about £9 10s to about £80. in addition there will be the customary transport tax of one pfennig (or id) a ton-kilometre.
During the negotiations between the two countries it was proposed at one point that an equitable solution would be a bilateral waiver of taxation. It is understood that the proposal is still being pursued.
Slightly more cheering news for operators is that the Anglo-German bilateral quota is to go up from 40 to 43.