Read My Lips: More New Taxes!

[bcholmes]

So, over the weekend, I remembered that I needed to get my license plates renewed on my birthday, and that I had let that slip my mind. So this morning, I popped up, quickly, to the nearest renewal place.

Renewal is relatively easy for me: although my car is getting older, I'm not required to get emissions testing ('cause it's a hybrid), so I can just go, show proof of insurance, pay my money, and get out of there.

Apparently, on September 1st, the city of Toronto started collecting a $60 per year tax on personal vehicles. I usually renew my plates for two years at a time (the maximum), so that was a sudden $120 more than I was expected (and it was almost as much as the renewal itself -- a two year renewal is $148, or thereabouts).

I'm okay with the tax -- I hope the money will be used on TTC services, and to implement the new "Transit City" I've been seeing talked about in the subway posters. I also approve of cars as a choice of things to tax -- Toronto has too many of them. I've always supported, for example, Toronto's attempts to be allowed to take part in gas tax (although that's never succeeded). Part of me wants the amount to be higher for certain vehicles (*cough*SUVs*cough*).

And, really, I'm lucky to have a good job, and it's no big deal to cover an extra expense of 120 bucks. But I hated being surprised about it. And that hate took a moment or two to get over.

Comments

[nexstarman.livejournal.com]

I wonder if using a registration terminal outside of Toronto avoids that tax.

[hellsop.livejournal.com]

I like taxes, generally. I'm well-paid, with few fixed expenses, so I'm the sort that *should* be supporting society a lot. But, yes, the surprise factor is distressing.