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You can register using your Google, Facebook, or Twitter account, just click here.Heard a rumor awhile back that either the feds or individual states (like NC) were/are considering a tax or fee for electric, hybrid or super fuel efficient vehicles to make up for the lost revenue from gas taxes.
Anyone heard anything lately?
Moderator Comment: I understand members may support or be opposed to these types of taxes however this is not a political forum so debating the appropriateness of taxes and/or government spending habits are not appropriate topics of discussion on this forum.
The most popular alternative method to the gas tax currently being tested or considered in a number of states is a mileage tax based either directly on the miles driven or on a combination of mileage and EPA vehicle fuel economy ratings which would penalize less efficient vehicles more than more efficient ones. These taxation schemes could either replace or supplement the existing taxes on gasoline.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_miles_traveled_tax
As far as I know only Washington and Oregon have actually begun testing this system and several more are actively considering it. However as governments are always seeking sources of revenue, and gas consumption is dropping, I expect to see more states explore alternative taxation options.
The best solution I think would be to have separate gas and property taxes. Gas taxes for consumption, property taxes assessed at time of emissions inspection where the inspector can check the odometer and the tax would be assessed based on the mass of the vin and the miles driven between inspections.It's a tricky issue, but I don't think adding tax to efficient vehicles is counterproductive - as long as it's less than you're saving on fuel economy.
Roads have to get paid for, that's really all there is to it.
You either tax everybody to pay for it equally, whether or not they use the road and regardless of how much - or you try to find a way to tax people who use them.
Historically, gas mileage has been garbage and relatively even. People who drove more bought more gas and thus paid more tax.
Now you've got a situation where there's people:
The trick is trying to figure out how to fairly apply taxes in every situation.
- driving a crappy old car with poor mileage because they can't afford any better
- driving a amp'd up muscle car that gets poor mileage because it's fun
- driving a powerful truck because they need it for work
- driving a expensive efficient car, just around town in retirement
- driving a efficient car thousands of miles a year to work
It's hard, people don't like paying for things.
If it were easy, it would be solved already.