Ver https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2019/03/21/belgium-reduces-sales-tax-on-bicycles-by-15-to-boost-health-and-reduce-congestion/
Faço notar: Eu sou um dos juristas que chamou a atenção que a Diretiva Europeia do IVA, no seu anexo, não contempla a descida do IVA na venda bicicletas novas, mas apenas a descida do IVA nas reparações de bicicletas. Esta última descida veio a ser contemplada em Portugal no âmbito da «Fiscalidade Verde» atendendo à minha sugestão por altura da Consulta Pública quanto àquele pacote legislativo da Fiscalidade Verde. Se se ler com atenção o texto de Carlton Reid no site da Forbes ver-se-á que tal medida (descida do IVA na venda bicicletas novas) não está em vigor na Bélgica, pois foi aí aprovada, mas ainda foi solicitada autorização à Comissão Europeia (!) para ser válida. Ora parece-me que tal implica que o Conselho Europeu analise a alteração da Diretiva do IVA. Mas até ela ser alterada pode ainda demorar... Sendo a aprovação da descida do IVA na Bélgica positivamente simbólica, é verdade, é também mais uma forma de pressão sobre o Conselho Europeu, mas não mais que isso. Pois, sem se alterar a diretiva do IVA a Bélgica não pode fazer entrar em vigor a referida descida do IVA... «A ver vamos»... como diz o cego.
Também enviei mensagem a Carlton fazendo-lhe ver que para além «Since 2009, E.U. member states have been able to reduce the VAT on bicycle repairs. Belgium was one of the first states to do so, along with Finland, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and the Netherlands.» Também Portugal baixou o IVA dos serviços de repração de bicicletas. Disse ao Carlton R.: «I need to say to you that Portugal is also a country that aproved a low VAT (6%) on bicycles repairs. It was a sugestion of mine during public consultation of portuguese VAT law changes 4 years ago [2015]. And followed by the Government and Parliament.»
Leiam o artigo completo de Carlton, abaixo:
Belgium Reduces Sales Tax On Bicycles from 21 to 6% To Boost Health, Reduce Congestion
Earlier this week Belgium’s parliament voted through a bill to lower the sales tax on bicycles – including e-bikes – from 21 to 6%. If approved by the European Commission the new Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate will apply from 1st April.
Belgian politician Laurent Devin has been championing the eco measure for some time. The socialist MP welcomed his bill’s passage: “A direct reduction of 15% is a strong message to promote cycling.”
He added: “The goal is to win more people over to this efficient and environmentally friendly means of transport.”
Ahmed Laaouej, leader of the Socialist Party, the second largest party in the Belgian parliament, agreed, reported HLN:
Traffic jams have an impact on health and climate, not to mention the enormous cost to the economy. The budgetary impact of this measure must be considered as an essential investment to face the challenges of mobility, the environment and health.”
445,000 bicycles were sold in Belgium in 2017, of which 218,000 were e-bikes.
Since 2009, E.U. member states have been able to reduce the VAT on bicycle repairs. Belgium was one of the first states to do so, along with Finland, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and the Netherlands.
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Bicycle organisations since then have been lobbying the European Commission to recommend that member states should reduce VAT rates on sales of new bicycles.
Last year the Commission published a proposal for reforming the EU VAT system, including reducing the sales tax on bicycles – but not e-bikes – to zero.
I was Transport Journalist of the Year in Press Gazette British Journalism Awards For Specialist Media 2018. Author at Island Press, USA. Click for more of my articles for Forbes.
