Car First Registration Tax raised by 15%, immediate effect

[genki]

Just moved to HK last month. Few weeks ago we bought a new car, we are still waiting for delivery. Yesterday the news came that we need to pay an extra 15% tax ($12 000) because the new tax is effective immediately. Since the paperwork for our car is still in progress, we need to pay this all of a sudden. We cannot cancel our order because it is not the dealers fault/ problem and we have deposited $50 000 already. While I understand that the government wants to discourage people from purchasing new cars, it did not give us much choice. We would have been happy to have bought a used car if this had been known from the beginning.

Is there a way that I can take this up with the government?

[wtbhotia]

I would take it up with the dealer and cancel the order and get your deposit back. I dont think you stand a chance with taking it up with the govt, u could still try contacting the transport dept and see what they say 1st. Transport Department - Contact Us

[rani]

Doesn't the purchase price that you agreed upon with the dealer include the first registration? So if you've signed the documents and paid a deposit can the dealer increase the price of the car?

[genki]

Thing is that it is not the dealer who is increasing the price of the car. On the back of the contract, it states `Buyer shall be responsible for payment of first registration tax... any increase in the above payments including but not limited to the licens and TAVA and registration fees, examination fees and first registration tax.... shall be borne by him.` It is the darned govn`t!
BERNAMA - Hong Kong To Raise First Registration Tax For Private Cars By 15 Per Cent

[jaykay]

You'll normally see in dealer price lists and contracts that prices with first registration are not guaranteed and are subject to change. That the government suddenly announced this with no prior warning shows why.
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[wtbhotia]

You'll normally see in dealer price lists and contracts that prices with first registration are not guaranteed and are subject to change. Posted via Mobile Device

OP your screwed, if you can afford to buy a brand new car, you can afford to pay the extra 12K, its not like were talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars here, its only 12K

[manhattan46e]

this just happened to me and theres no way out and I have to pay another 30k to the govenment or lose my deposit.

could try to write with your views which I'm going to do.

http://www.budget.gov.hk/2011/eng/pd...ation_pack.pdf

Apparently there was a protest drive yesterday organised by the right hand drive motor association.

[Pfreeni]

I have the same problem.I had a few arguments with my car dealer, as I think the papers were submitted late to the government. Today they came up with the "solution": I need to pay the extra tax, but I get 2000 HKD petrol vouchers.
I am not sure if I will take the offer. What will you do, any news?

[manhattan46e]

I've been hit with this tax and have to stump up an extra 30k. Wonder if the extra 6k in my MPF account will be able to cover this when I'm retire? Going to write and complain to financial secterary's office. Looks like they are reconsidering budget.
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[jaykay]

I have the same problem.I had a few arguments with my car dealer, as I think the papers were submitted late to the government. Today they came up with the "solution": I need to pay the extra tax, but I get 2000 HKD petrol vouchers.
I am not sure if I will take the offer. What will you do, any news?

Firstly the vehicle documents cannot be passed to Customs and Excise before the car is physically in Hong Kong and then by law there are 14 days in which to submit them. So unless your dealer has the car here and submitted the docs after 14 days he was not late in submitting paperwork.
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