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SINGAPORE: Taxi operators and private rental vehicle (PHC) lessors have pledged to approve the 15% road tax rebates introduced to ease the impact of the recent increase in gasoline taxes, said the Ground Transportation (LTA) on Wednesday (February 24). ) in a press release.
This means that PHC and taxi drivers can expect to get rental refunds or incentives in the coming months.
Active drivers will also receive, as previously announced, gasoline tax refunds in the amount of S $ 360 for four consecutive months. The disbursement will be made from May to August through taxi operators and APS, LTA reported this Wednesday.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, in his budget statement, announced last week that gasoline tax rates would be raised by 15 cents per liter for premium gasoline effective immediately, while intermediate gasoline taxes would be raised by 10 cents per liter.
Mr. Heng and LTA also announced that the Government will set aside a total of S $ 113 million to provide tax rebates for gasoline and gasoline hybrid vehicles.
State Transport Minister Amy Khor said Wednesday that some people have shared their concerns about the increase in the gasoline tax, “especially those who depend on their vehicles for a living.”
“To address these concerns, we have worked with unions and operators to present some of the support measures, to help ease the transition for active taxi and PHC drivers, as well as individual owners of smaller motorcycles.” Dr. Khor said in a Facebook post.
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Taxi operators have pledged to “completely pass on” 15 percent road tax rebates to top tenants who drive gasoline and gasoline hybrid taxis through rent reductions between mid-March and April, according to LTA.
Fleet partners recommended by GrabRentals and Grab have also committed to “pass on road tax refunds” to PHC gasoline and gasoline and hybrid drivers, while Gojek has committed to “introduce additional incentive discounts for their drivers. in March and April 2021, “LTA said.
“We urge all vehicle lessors to pass on road tax refunds to their renters, who are incurring the highest gasoline costs.”
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No application is required for S $ 360 road tax refunds or gasoline tax refunds.
The latter will be delivered to all drivers, including primary hires and relief drivers, who are eligible for the COVID-19 Driver Assistance Fund or who completed an average of at least 200 trips per month between January and April.
“Drivers who meet the requirements will be notified by their operators,” Dr. Khor said.
REFUNDS FOR MOTORCYCLE OWNERS
As previously announced, all motorcycle owners will receive a 60 percent road tax refund for one year from August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022.
“We urge owners who are renting their motorcycles to pass the rebates on to their renters, who are incurring higher gas costs,” LTA said Wednesday.
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Individual owners of motorcycles with an engine capacity of 200cc or less will get S $ 80 in discount on gasoline taxes, while individual owners of motorcycles with an engine capacity of between 201cc and 400cc will receive S $ 50 , as announced last week. Only owners who are registered by the end of February 16 are eligible.
LTA said Wednesday that this will be disbursed “progressively from mid-May, through GIRO or PayNow (NRIC).” Owners can update their bank account details on the LTA website.
No application is required and owners will be notified by SMS when the fuel tax refund has been credited to their bank accounts, the authority said.
It added that individual owners with more than one motorcycle will receive road tax refunds for each motorcycle, but only one gas tax refund payment based on the highest amount among eligible motorcycles.
“Together, the road tax rebates and additional gasoline tax rebates will help offset about a year of gasoline tax increases for taxis, PHCs and motorcycles,” said Dr. Khor.
