Electric-car buyers to get thousands of shekels in tax benefits from Israeli government HAARETZ

New incentive involves lowering purchase tax on vehicles that pollute less, resulting in a saving of NIS 6,000 to NIS 10,000 for car buyers.
By Zafrir Rinat

Motorists who buy electric-powered cars and some hybrid cars are to get additional tax benefits in a bid to encourage more Israelis to purchase these greener models, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz announced on Sunday.

The new incentive involves lowering the purchase tax on certain vehicles that pollute less than standard internal-combustion vehicles, resulting in a saving of NIS 6,000 to NIS 10,000 for car buyers.

Under the new policy the tax on electric cars is being cut from 10 percent to 8 percent this year and next.

When it comes to hybrid cars, which run on a combination of electricity and gasoline, purchase tax will remain at 30 percent, but it was slated to go up to 45 percent.

Cars that run on a combination of gasoline and rechargeable batteries, which are called “plug-in” vehicles, will be subject to a lower, 20 percent purchase tax this year and next – a rate that will then gradually increase.

Finance Ministry officials say the benefits for Israeli car buyers who take advantage of the incentives are collectively worth NIS 130 million over the next several years.

Initial pro-environment tax rates were introduced about three years ago. The newly announced incentives are expected to result in cleaner air, with incidental benefits to the country including, for example, lower medical costs for respiratory illnesses.

Hybrid vehicles emit up to 50 percent less air pollution. Use of battery-powered vehicles can result in even more substantial pollution reduction, but the extent of the improvement depends on the source of the electricity used to power the cars, taking into account pollution generated at the electric power plant. Electric cars themselves, however, don’t emit air pollution and therefore result in immediate benefits in urban areas, where air pollution is a major cause of illness and even death.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/electric-car-buyers-to-get-thousands-of-shekels-in-tax-benefits-from-israeli-government-1.427193

Steinitz: Tax on on hybrid, electric cars to drop – JERUSALEM POST

By NADAV SHEMER
04/29/2012 22:00
Purchase tax on electric vehicles will decrease from 10 percent to 8% on June 1, before returning to 10% in 2014 and rising to 30% in 2015.

Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz decided Sunday to reduce the purchase tax on hybrid and electric vehicles, introducing it as part of the Tax Authority’s “green taxation” policy

Purchase tax on electric vehicles will decrease from 10 percent to 8% on June 1, before returning to 10% in 2014 and rising to 30% in 2015. Purchase tax on hybrid vehicles will remain at 30% in 2013 and increase to 45% in 2014, instead of rising to 45% and 60%, respectively, as originally planned

Steinitz introduced a separate purchase tax for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), which will start at 20% before rising to 30% in 2014, 45% in 2015, 60% in 2016 and full taxation in 2017. PHEVs share the characteristics of both conventional hybrid vehicles, boasting an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, and of an all-electric vehicle, with a plug to connect to the electric grid

The Finance Ministry said in a statement it hopes to strike a long-term balance in the way it taxes different technologies, allocating tax credits to vehicles according to how much they pollute. In the short term, the ministry said it was taking into consideration the difficulties non-polluting vehicles face in penetrating the local market

The Treasury said Sunday’s measure would cost it about NIS 130 million in revenues. Israel has one of the highest rates of purchase tax on regular vehicles in the world – 83% plus VAT

A spokeswoman for Toyota Israel, which first introduced hybrid vehicles to Israel with the Prius in 2004, told The Jerusalem Post the company welcomed the decision to reduce taxation on hybrid and plug-in vehicles. Toyota would introduce its first plug-in vehicle to the Israeli market in the coming months, she said

Mayer, which imports Honda Jazz hybrid electric vehicle, also said it welcomed the decision

“Without a doubt, maintaining the current tax rate will cause private and corporate customers to continue to purchase vehicles that save them from purchasing gasoline and that reduce air pollution,” the company said in a statement

A spokeswoman for Better Place Israel, which will soon launch its Renault Fluence ZE electric vehicles for commercial use, declined to comment.

http://www.jpost.com/Business/BusinessNews/Article.aspx?id=267977