Providing a specific measure for one type of utility, namely motor homes, would be “totally discriminatory and unfair“, said the Walloon Minister of the Budget, Adrien Dolimont, Monday, in committee of the regional parliament where he was questioned on the subject by the leader of the Engagés group, François Desquesnes.
Earlier in the day, the latter had denounced the explosion in the amount of registration and circulation taxes imposed on motorhome owners following the entry into force of the decree for fairer taxation in Wallonia.
Utilities or powerful cars?
This text, originally brought by Jean-Luc Crucke then Minister of the Budget, assimilates, according to Les Engagés, motor homes to powerful automobiles and no longer to utilities.
“Contrary to what you say, these vehicles have remained utilities for tax purposes. On the other hand, the tax regime applicable to all commercial vehicles, including but not limited to motorhomes (pick-ups and others, etc.), has actually been modified by the decree of December 22, 2021 for a fairer tax. And since January 1, 2022, the favorable tax regime that these utilities can benefit from is reserved for professional users.“, for his part explained Minister Dolimont.
“These new provisions provide that the commercial vehicle is henceforth excluded from the favorable regime if it is not used, even partially, either for the exercise of the professional activity of a natural person, or for the achievement of the social of a legal person. The majority of motorhomes will never meet this particular condition of professional use given their use essentially dedicated to leisure“, he added.
“I can understand the feelings of users of this type of vehicle, unhappy to note that future acquisitions of motorhomes will generally be subject to ordinary car taxation“, continued the minister. “But I also understand that of all users of utility type vehicles who may be impacted in the future by this change in legislation“, he nuanced.
“Discriminatory”
According to Adrien Dolimont, it would therefore be “totally discriminatory and unfair to provide for a specific measure for a type of utility, knowing that the condition imposed by the decree of December 22, 2021 does not make any differentiation according to the type of utility, but indeed according to the use that the we do.“
“Going back specifically on a category of utilities will immediately result in discrimination that is not justifiable, neither legally nor ethically.“, finally insisted the minister without convincing the leader of the Engagés group who again pleaded for a return to the previous system.
“You explain that the current reform is good; that we must continue. In June, your party president said he wanted to support a popular right. However, your action as a Liberal minister is quite the opposite. Returning to the past situation would only cancel the taxing rage that is underway today“, thus estimated François Desquesnes.