Treasury forced to refund tax on imported used cars

The general spokesperson for EJT, Eleanor Sharpston, believes that Polish laws on importing cars from the EU are against EU law, if the tribunal finds this to be true, Polish tax payers will benefit. Since May 2004, 2 million used cars were imported, with government excise amounting to zl.2 billion. The excise was compulsory since registering a car is dependent on paying tax, however, in some cases the excise can amount to 65% of a vehicle's value. Sharpston has decided that discriminating against cars from the EU is unacceptable, saying that it is not fair that the excise paid from EU cars is higher than the one paid from cars bought in Poland. The budget does not want to let go of the excise, however, everyone who paid excise on an imported used car after May 2004 could be eligible for a refund. (Rzeczpospolita p.A1, C1) M.M.