Taxing time for new car buyers

THE price of an average family saloon car is €22,000 — €13,636 for the car and €8,364 in excise duty and VAT for the Exchequer.

The Government also takes €84,000 on tax when buying a €300,000 house.

Figures released in the Taxation Statistics Budget 2005 document by the Department of Finance, in advance of Wednesday's Budget, reveals that 38% of the cost of the average family saloon is paid to the Government in taxes.