How do you feel about paying tax? US/Ireland comparison

Elite Genetics · 05-12-2020 07:38PM #1

I'm sure you're enjoying that €2250 annual bill for your M3. Here in the good old Texas there is no such thing cause 'merica, also no insurance required in Virginia. I guess we need to save the environment so pay up.

In all seriousness, even if you're an enthusiast it must be tear inducing to pay that much unless you're loaded to the point that it doesn't matter.

endacl · 05-12-2020 07:40PM

Honestly.

Doesn’t bother me.

elperello · 05-12-2020 07:44PM

Kills me.

kirving · 05-12-2020 08:03PM

Elite Genetics wrote: »

, also no insurance required in Virginia. I guess we need to save the environment so pay up.

As much as I don't like paying it, I'm very glad that insurance in Ireland is mandatory and generally has liability limits in the tens of millions.

PsychoPete · 05-12-2020 08:15PM

I've a friend from Eastern Europe, he has a 3.5 S class out there and it's less than €100 a year to tax

Isambard · 05-12-2020 08:36PM

so long as everyone else pays the same, no problem. Thing is though you can expect huge tax rises post Covid

endacl · 05-12-2020 09:31PM

Elite Genetics wrote: »

Here in the good old Texas there is no such thing cause 'merica, also no insurance required in Virginia.

Id say you’ve never been closer to Virginia than Cavan town...

3d4life · 05-12-2020 09:56PM

Cowboys dont need insurance

Andrewf20 · 05-12-2020 10:17PM

I think I could stomach up to 3.0 litre tax in old money, i.e. 1494eu, but 1809eu for 3.2 and above is hard going in my estimation.

To put a positive spin on things, big taxes are a great lever for pushing down 2nd hand prices.

Also, 1494/365 is 4 euro a day which doesn't sound as bad.

teediddlyeye · 06-12-2020 12:58AM

Depends on the car. I've paid the 1809 before, wouldn't be so quick to do it again. I'd probably be in the minority preferring the c02 system. Choose wisely and you can have a big diesel or petrol for a reasonable rate.

Diemos · 06-12-2020 01:05AM

PsychoPete wrote: »

I've a friend from Eastern Europe, he has a 3.5 S class out there and it's less than €100 a year to tax

yeah but his house cost 5,000€ so hardly like with like.

jimmycrackcorm · 06-12-2020 01:06AM

I hardly ever drive so I think it's unfair that I pay the same tax as someone who does drive extensively. I'd be totally in favour of tax being added to fuel instead. Of course, the rural lobby will say it is a disproportionate tax on them, but they've chosen to live there and it's disproportionate for me to pay the tax.

Diemos · 06-12-2020 01:10AM

Elite Genetics wrote: »

I'm sure you're enjoying that €2250 annual bill for your M3. Here in the good old Texas there is no such thing cause 'merica, also no insurance required in Virginia. I guess we need to save the environment so pay up.

In all seriousness, even if you're an enthusiast it must be tear inducing to pay that much unless you're loaded to the point that it doesn't matter.

Has to be one of the reasons we rarely see nice cars here, you go to the UK ( very similar market) and you are much more likely to see higher end cars.

Having driven an M3 for a short while I can tell you that while it is lovely to drive, you can't complete a trip on the M50 without some tool (usually in an S3 or Golf R) trying to get you to race them. Too much headache.

Diemos · 06-12-2020 01:11AM

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I hardly ever drive so I think it's unfair that I pay the same tax as someone who does drive extensively. I'd be totally in favour of tax being added to fuel instead. Of course, the rural lobby will say it is a disproportionate tax on them, but they've chosen to live there and it's disproportionate for me to pay the tax.

I'm sure there is a reason that they don't do this, I just can't think of one.
But they would save a fortune in admin fees and non payments vs the current system.

teediddlyeye · 06-12-2020 01:22AM

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I hardly ever drive so I think it's unfair that I pay the same tax as someone who does drive extensively. I'd be totally in favour of tax being added to fuel instead. Of course, the rural lobby will say it is a disproportionate tax on them, but they've chosen to live there and it's disproportionate for me to pay the tax.

Someone doing way more miles than you is likely paying more tax overall, so you're not paying the same.

There's plenty of tax on fuel already we dont need any more. Want to pay less buy a micra.

Atlantic Dawn · 06-12-2020 01:23AM

What bothers me most is it's not ringfenced to maintain and upgrade the transport network in this country, even if that meant including public transport funding.

Pops_20 · 06-12-2020 01:38AM

Don't feel so good about it, seeing as I pay 200 euro every 3 months for very little driving.

On a slightly unrelated note, I recently found out something interesting.
For cars older than July 2008, we pay motor tax based on Carbon Dioxide emissions. Co2 is bad for the planet. The more Co2 you create the more you pay. That's fair.
However, did you know that catalytic converters in cars actually produce more Co2 than if the car did not have a catalytic converter at all?
The catalytic converter converts the Carbon Monoxide in exhaust gas into Carbon dioxide, thus produces more.
I know that Carbon Monoxide isn't great for people to be inhaling and neither is NOx, but it just all seems a bit mad that global CO2 emissions could be significantly lower without catalytic converters, the very thing we are taxed to death on.

Dravokivich · 06-12-2020 02:24AM

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I hardly ever drive so I think it's unfair that I pay the same tax as someone who does drive extensively. I'd be totally in favour of tax being added to fuel instead. Of course, the rural lobby will say it is a disproportionate tax on them, but they've chosen to live there and it's disproportionate for me to pay the tax.

Diemos wrote: »

I'm sure there is a reason that they don't do this, I just can't think of one.
But they would save a fortune in admin fees and non payments vs the current system.

They did that already with road tax, then later on brought out motor tax. If they pushed it to fuel again, it'll come back as vehicular tax as they'll need a means to cash in on EVs at some point.

Isambard · 06-12-2020 10:28AM

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I hardly ever drive so I think it's unfair that I pay the same tax as someone who does drive extensively. I'd be totally in favour of tax being added to fuel instead. Of course, the rural lobby will say it is a disproportionate tax on them, but they've chosen to live there and it's disproportionate for me to pay the tax.

you've chosen not to drive extensively.. the rural lobby would argue.

Fr Tod Umptious · 06-12-2020 10:37AM

I've been happily ticking that "voluntary declaration of off the road" or what ever it's called check box every three months since March.

Thank you COVID.

PhilOssophy · 06-12-2020 10:42AM

Elite Genetics wrote: »

Here in the good old Texas....

Nuff said. America is the barometer or standard bearer for nothing any longer.

Del2005 · 06-12-2020 11:49AM

Elite Genetics wrote: »

I'm sure you're enjoying that €2250 annual bill for your M3. Here in the good old Texas there is no such thing cause 'merica, also no insurance required in Virginia. I guess we need to save the environment so pay up.

In all seriousness, even if you're an enthusiast it must be tear inducing to pay that much unless you're loaded to the point that it doesn't matter.

Wait till you get sick to see how great America is.

Their transport infrastructure is falling apart with thousands of dangerous bridges and woeful public transport in most of the country. But enjoy the low cost of motoring, while you are healthy.

Elite Genetics · 06-12-2020 11:56AM

PhilOssophy wrote: »

Nuff said. America is the barometer or standard bearer for nothing any longer.

Have you lived there? We are talking here about taxes. Are you saying that you prefer paying massive tax for owning a car and would prefer over not paying anything at all? It's the best country for car enthusiasts, that's why you see so many nice powerful cars there instead of hordes of micras, clios and fiestas.

Elite Genetics · 06-12-2020 11:58AM

Del2005 wrote: »

Wait till you get sick to see how great America is.

Their transport infrastructure is falling apart with thousands of dangerous bridges and woeful public transport in most of the country. But enjoy the low cost of motoring, while you are healthy.

Thousands of dangerous bridges... lol wut? Thank you, I will enjoy. Ireland hasn't got good public transport either if you want to compare.

McCrack · 06-12-2020 12:19PM

We don't have mass shootings either

Elite Genetics · 06-12-2020 12:24PM

McCrack wrote: »

We don't have mass shootings either

It's a warzone, I tell you. Once you leave the airport, you sprint straight to your car and drive to the hotel while hiding under the steering wheel in order to avoid getting shot. You order any goods for home delivery because it's way to dangerous to go to a shop as there is a mass shooter everywhere with rocket launchers and machine guns setup.

Zascar · 06-12-2020 12:43PM

It's absolutely criminal and just unfair to car lovers. I always wanted to have nice cars with big engines but it just pained me too much to get raped each year with the tax so always kept it under 2L.

Now I live in Dubai, and like the OP in the USA, there are almost no taxes on cars here. Just a yearly registration/test fee of about €150. Insurance Is very cheap also - it's a flat rate based on the cylinders once it's over a certain age. I drive a 4.5L V8 Porsche Cayenne (which I only paid €6,000 euro for as its 2008 - but mint), and I pay under €500. Looking at a Porsche Cayman and insurance will only be €250. Also the car is insured and anyone can drive it. Oh and a full tank of petrol in mine is just over €30 for 90 litres. It's the way it should be. Could not come back to Ireland be raped insane costs of cars, tax and insurance and then again by zero no claims bonus etc - that does not even exist out here.

PhilOssophy · 06-12-2020 12:47PM

Elite Genetics wrote: »

Have you lived there? We are talking here about taxes. Are you saying that you prefer paying massive tax for owning a car and would prefer over not paying anything at all? It's the best country for car enthusiasts, that's why you see so many nice powerful cars there instead of hordes of micras, clios and fiestas.

I did live there, and honestly I'd prefer our roads full of cars that people need rather than a road full of disgusting oversized gas guzzling waste.

But anyway, I think you're just looking for an argument so I think any further engagement has me in the "arguing with an idiot" category, so I will wish you a good day, and a Happy Christmas while I unfollow the the thread.

Slán!

Fitz II · 06-12-2020 01:39PM

I despise paying tax, however it is the social contract we have to live with the freedoms, philosophy & society that Ireland affords us.

What you save on taxes in other countries you pay for in other areas such as lack of affordable healthcare, high criminal activity and lack public safety, oppressive religious beliefs and treatment of the outsider as slaves, unstable government, lack open access to the EU, lack of freedom of movement, extreme climates.

Its a grand little country we have here but there is a cost of entry and it be tax.

sameoldname · 06-12-2020 01:51PM

Zascar wrote: »

It's absolutely criminal and just unfair to car lovers. I always wanted to have nice cars with big engines but it just pained me too much to get raped each year with the tax so always kept it under 2L.

Now I live in Dubai, and like the OP in the USA, there are almost no taxes on cars here. Just a yearly registration/test fee of about €150. Insurance Is very cheap also - it's a flat rate based on the cylinders once it's over a certain age. I drive a 4.5L V8 Porsche Cayenne (which I only paid €6,000 euro for as its 2008 - but mint), and I pay under €500. Looking at a Porsche Cayman and insurance will only be €250. Also the car is insured and anyone can drive it. Oh and a full tank of petrol in mine is just over €30 for 90 litres. It's the way it should be. Could not come back to Ireland be raped insane costs of cars, tax and insurance and then again by zero no claims bonus etc - that does not even exist out here.

You can't compare taxes in one country that has basically no mineral resources (Ireland) and one that has the 7th largest oil reserves on Earth. Your low taxes are being subsidised by the fact that oil exports account for 1/3rd of government revenue. It's not exactly fair to compare the two.

teediddlyeye · 06-12-2020 02:29PM

PhilOssophy wrote: »

honestly I'd prefer our roads full of cars that people need rather than a road full of disgusting oversized gas guzzling waste.

I fcuking hate this Irish ingrained Catholic guilt argument on needs vs wants. Why not just become a monk, take a vow of poverty and dig some of your own grave every day until you die. Fantastic use of resources.

Dont want a wasteful car dont drive one. Ireland is taking the p1ss at the opposite end of the spectrum to the US on motoring taxes.

How do you feel about paying tax? US/Ireland comparison

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