– We are concerned that it should pay off to make environmentally friendly choices. That’s what director of the Norwegian Consumer Council, Inger Lise Blyverket, says. It is also no coincidence that she is doing it now. The removal of the VAT will make even more people consider adding the Christmas gift trade to the second-hand market, she believes. – It must be felt on the wallet, and it must be felt on the environment at the same time, and then we must look for everything that can make it easier and cheaper for us consumers. Paying VAT on goods that are resold and on which VAT has already been paid is, in our opinion, unfortunate. Believes in more second-hand trade The Lead Agency refers to its own surveys which say that more Norwegians will buy second-hand Christmas presents. – It will also promote more second-hand trading, and we know from our research that availability, i.e. the fact that second-hand trading is available, also increases usage. What is important to us is to try to shift more of our consumption from buying new to buying used or renting, leasing or borrowing. Then it must be equally safe to do so and it must be cheap. – We see that there is still much to be gained by making it easier and more affordable for both shops and consumers, and we cannot understand anything other than that we should cut VAT completely. Many people go to the malls these days to buy Christmas presents. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news She thinks electric cars are a good example. – We know that cutting VAT can affect behaviour. For example, we have seen it when it comes to electric cars, where VAT has been cut for a time to see how sales can be increased. I am concerned that we are looking for all kinds of measures that push us in a more environmentally friendly direction. Then we know that tax and VAT can be that type of instrument. The lead agency also says that there is broad agreement that goods and services should be taxed, or VAT charged in this case, but that does not mean that they cannot use the tax regime to achieve more environmentally friendly behaviour. Thinks the system is good enough today But the Ministry of Finance is not entirely on board with the proposal. – Recycling already has favorable VAT rules today. These are rules we want to continue. This is what state secretary Lars Vangen writes in an e-mail to news. – Second-hand sellers do not need to calculate VAT on the entire sales price, but only need to calculate VAT on the advance. This means that only the value added by the seller to the goods is taxed with 25 per cent value added tax. He also asks people to remember the basic idea behind VAT. – The idea is that the basis, i.e. goods and services that we all buy and sell, should be as broad as possible so that we can have as low a rate as possible. The income is then distributed across the state budget for various purposes – including for climate and environmental measures. State Secretary Lars Vangen (Sp)
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The Consumer Council wants VAT on second-hand trade to be removed – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
