Brussels approves tax on public EV charging stations in bid to curb parking revenue loss
Brussels' 19 municipalities have agreed on a uniform tax of 125 euros per port for operators of public electric vehicle charging stations. In practice, the tax per charging station will often be 250 euros, as most of them are dual-port charging stations.
Some Brussels municipalities already levy different taxes on public EV charging stations. In Saint-Gilles and Ixelles, the tax is 360 euros and 562 euros per dual-port charger respectively. As each municipality is allowed to apply its own rate, providers of public charging stations choose the municipality with the most advantageous tax. The city is therefore launching a new uniform tax.
In principle, each municipality is free to decide whether to implement the tax, but it is expected that they will. By doing so, they hope to offset the income they lose in parking fees, as each charging station takes up two parking spaces. The decline in petrol pumps, which are also taxed by the municipalities, is also reducing revenues.
The agreement on the uniform tax rate was reached at the end of March but has only now become public. In addition, the mayors of the 19 municipalities agreed on a new rate for drivers who leave their electric car connected to an EV charging station when it is already fully charged, to encourage them to move their car faster.
The introduction of the tax and the fee are scheduled for next year.
An EV charging station © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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