2023-06-20 16:41:01
By Priscilla Slomp and Edo van der Goot
Jun 20, 2023 at 11:57 Update: an hour ago
Resentment has arisen among part of the opposition regarding the intention to change the tax on gas. The cabinet suggests that there will be a reduced rate, but in practice this is not the case. There is a good chance that the tax on gas will even increase for most households.
In April, Minister Rob Jetten (Climate and Energy) presented a package of measures to achieve the climate goals in 2030. This includes, among other things, the changed energy tax.
“The cabinet presented a climate package with great fanfare that would turn out just,” said PvdA MP Joris Thijssen in a response to NU.nl. “It turns out? The so-called tax cut is nothing more than calling off a tax increase that would take effect in 2025.”
JA21 leader Joost Eerdmans calls the increase in tax in recent years “a punishment” for gas consumption. “This affects almost everyone, since 90 percent of homes have a natural gas connection.”
Coalition party CDA also assumed a lower energy tax. “We don’t see that reflected enough,” says Member of Parliament Henri Bontenbal. “As far as we are concerned, the proposals made regarding energy tax in the climate package are a finger exercise, but a better proposal will be submitted to the House on Budget Day.”
Coalition member Silvio Erkens of the VVD also expects a new, final proposal from the cabinet. “That will only come in August, so we as VVD will also pay attention to that.”
On Tuesday followingnoon, the House of Representatives will debate the climate plans with Jetten.
PvdA Member of Parliament Joris Thijssen. Photo: ANP
Jetten promises lower tax on gas
For this year, the tax on gas up to a certain consumption (170,000 cubic meters) is 49 cents per cubic meter. The plans published by Jetten state that energy costs for households will be reduced.
“The cabinet is therefore introducing a reduced rate up to a certain gas consumption,” writes Jetten in the letter to parliament from April.
But the figures that the minister sends show something else. An extra tax bracket will be added, so that households will have to deal with a total of two brackets.
One from 0 to 800 cubic meters and one from 800 to 170,000 cubic meters. In the first bracket, the energy tax remains the same at 49 cents per cubic meter. Above that, the tax will increase from 2025 to 67 cents per cubic meter of natural gas.
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Since an average household uses regarding 1,200 cubic meters of gas per year, the tax on natural gas will increase for many people.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy says in a response that there is a reduction compared to a previously proposed increase. That increase has been brushed aside in the latest proposal.
Moreover, the amounts are “technical assumptions” that are still being calculated. “So no final decision has been taken yet,” says the spokesperson regarding the amounts. The cut of the second disk is also not yet fixed. The cabinet will make a decision on this on Prinsjesdag.
‘Jetten deceives people’
Suzanne Kröger of GroenLinks thinks that gas is being taxed more heavily in itself, which is a good thing. After all, it is a measure that should stimulate sustainability.
“But we are very concerned regarding the fact that the cabinet is letting the first tranche go up to 800 cubic meters,” says Kröger. “That means that many households with average consumption are confronted with a much higher energy bill. And that in times when groceries are already incredibly expensive due to high inflation.”
Moreover, tenants in drafty homes in particular will pay more gas tax, expects Kröger. The GroenLinks politician wants this group to be helped “urgently” to make their home more sustainable.
PvdA member Thijssen also foresees that they can “deteriorate strongly”. “Jetten is simply deceiving people with this.” GroenLinks and PvdA advocate a “draft discount”.
Eerdmans calls cutting the first disc into two parts “a pacifier”. “After all, a ‘reduced rate’ on paper is of no use to you, as long as the rate does not go down or even rise in practice!”
Ukraine changed energy plans
In the coalition agreement it has been agreed to reduce the tax on electricity and to increase the tax on gas. Households should be encouraged to use less gas in this way. For example, by purchasing a (hybrid) heat pump. It is one of the sustainability measures of VVD, D66, CDA and ChristenUnie.
But the Russian invasion of Ukraine turned the plans upside down. Energy prices, especially gas, rose to record highs. The cabinet came up with a billion-dollar package to reduce the rising costs somewhat. For example, a price ceiling was introduced and the planned increase in the tax on gas was reversed.
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