PA to tax electric vehicles

[Inigoes]

Coming soon. States are trying to make up for losses in the tax base.

How much is too much? Pennsylvania House negotiating road-use fee for electric vehicles

The Transportation Committee passed the bill 22-3 Monday, sending it to the full House, where it could be up for final passage Wednesday.

news.yahoo.com

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

It's only "fair and equitable" considering the owners pay no gasoline taxes earmarked for highway repairs and expansion. How much is enough is an open question...to the politicians there is no "enough"...it's always gotta be more.

 

[RFBfromDE]

If they abolished the fuel tax and replaced it with a mileage based use tax I could be OK with it.

But I'm NEVER OK with a new tax.

 

[Ponder_MD]

EV's have dodged the road use tax long enough. This won't solve the entire problem but I don't see what's so difficult about adding a "per Kwh" tax at public charging stations just as you add a "per gallon" tax at petro pumps.

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

The government can never do with less...it always wants more...but you can do with less.

 

[Ponder_MD]

If they abolished the fuel tax and replaced it with a mileage based use tax I could be OK with it.

But I'm NEVER OK with a new tax.

I only have one beef with the mileage use tax- it violates the privacy of the citizen by letting the gov't monitor where they drive, or at least, their mileage.

 

[Mark75H]

Sort of.

Actually, this is one of those camel’s nose under the tent /slippery slope things. Because cars get better gas mileage than they used to. It has already been proposed to tax all cars by annual mileage. It was proposed, but not entered in legislation in Maryland during several general assemblies

 

[RFBfromDE]

I only have one beef with the mileage use tax- it violates the privacy of the citizen by letting the gov't monitor where they drive, or at least, their mileage.

They collect the mileage at the registration and/or emission inspection process already.

 

[HiStandards]

If they abolished the fuel tax and replaced it with a mileage based use tax I could be OK with it.

But I'm NEVER OK with a new tax.

Please explain how one would administer a mileage based use tax? Car connected to WiFi?, Annual visit to pay "emissions station" to read odometer? What about out of state driving?

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

If a mileage tax is enacted for all...then the gasoline tax should be abolished...otherwise drivers are being double taxed. But...that's not likely...government can never do with less. It's a voracious beast only out to grow in size and influence.

 

[Inigoes]

EV's have dodged the road use tax long enough. This won't solve the entire problem but I don't see what's so difficult about adding a "per Kwh" tax at public charging stations just as you add a "per gallon" tax at petro pumps.

That would mostly get tourists. The EV owners who charge at home, would continue to not pay their share.

 

[Inigoes]

I only have one beef with the mileage use tax- it violates the privacy of the citizen by letting the gov't monitor where they drive, or at least, their mileage.

It's recorded annually anyway in mandatory state inspections.

That is how PA catches people selling cars, who rewind the odometers.

 

[RFBfromDE]

Please explain how one would administer a mileage based use tax? Car connected to WiFi?,

No.

Annual visit to pay "emissions station" to read odometer?

Or upload photo on line maybe?

What about out of state driving?

No different than buying gas out of state now perhaps.

 

[mpollan1]

That would mostly get tourists. The EV owners who charge at home, would continue to not pay their share.

Could make "smart" chargers that record how much went through the dongle or a separate meter not unlike separate water meters for those that water their lawn.

 

[traveller]

Please explain how one would administer a mileage based use tax? Car connected to WiFi?, Annual visit to pay "emissions station" to read odometer? What about out of state driving?

The way we pay federal income tax. Self report backed up by audit. And yes, 'audit' could mean a kiosk that reads mileage via a plug in or wifi port. Just make the port mandatory for any car registered in the state, the manufacturers will standardize in a hurry if someone like CA required it.

 

[Steel Hunter]

EV's have dodged the road use tax long enough. This won't solve the entire problem but I don't see what's so difficult about adding a "per Kwh" tax at public charging stations just as you add a "per gallon" tax at petro pumps.

Electricity is obtainable from many more places than gas is. You can't cover every scenario and way you can plug in a car to an outlet. The easiest way to apply a fuel tax equivalent is to bill it at EV purchase and titling or title transfer. Anything short of that can be circumvented for those inclined as even registration is ignored by some people.

I would also rather not pay extra taxes, but I hate to say it does make sense that heavier than average vehicles not paying any fuel tax should also be contributing to road maintenance funds somehow.

 

[LCPIWB]

While I do not own an EV....Isn't electric consumption already taxed? I have not looked at my B.G.E. bill lately, but I am sure it is there.

 

[GCM56]

Tax on batteries.
Lithium batteries are regulated as a hazardous material under the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 C.F.R., Parts 171-180). The HMR apply to any material DOT determines can pose an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce.

 

[chale127]

The way we pay federal income tax. Self report backed up by audit. And yes, 'audit' could mean a kiosk that reads mileage via a plug in or wifi port. Just make the port mandatory for any car registered in the state, the manufacturers will standardize in a hurry if someone like CA required it.

I wouldn't be against this...something like you visit once per calendar year, at your leisure, that way an avg is established and as long as what you claim reasonably meets up with what is recorded...you are good

The politicians would screw this up though

 

[chale127]

While I do not own an EV....Isn't electric consumption already taxed? I have not looked at my B.G.E. bill lately, but I am sure it is there.

But that tax money does not go directly, or even indirectly towards O&M of roadways....