We’re really going to end up in a situation where 90% of people drive a salary car and we’ll think it’s normal for fucks sake
I guess I’ll get shot down for this … but is it really a problem and is it not what the politics secretly need to make the green agenda work ?
The negative effects op this are very much on the receiving end. The salary you get is lower on paper, that count less for your pension, not sure the next company will give the car, …
Other then that, it would be great to be able to have an alternative (like cash 4 car but that actually pays you a correct amount of money), but it would not make me drive less and I would replace the always new hybrid or EV with a cheap ol diesel or gas car like most. I don’t car about the fancy car, I care about the cost as soon as I have to pay for it, the green agenda is immediately unimportant.
(I already build a house following the recent standard, I did my part in overspending for useless rules, I’m done fixing the ‘climat’)
Edit: and yeah, the fact that a car is the most popular going to work … come on, what really are the options. My job is 1,5h away (with traffic jam included) once a week. By bike-train-tram to get there is it 2,5h.
Treat the disease. Not the symptoms.
Company cars exist because taxation in Belgium is too high. Lower taxes by lowering government expenses and the incentives for company cars will disappear by themselves.
are you people really telling me that all those Beverly Hills wannabes in the 2 brabants need a car to get into Brussels and not just a proper train infrastructure (not the stupid “RER” that does nothing) and less NIMBYism in general?
stop pretending this is the “working man’s struggle”. In any other European country the two Brabants would be better connected to Brussels.
As always, the salary car prevails, even if it’s a completely idiotic concept both from a climatic perspective and a social justice perspective. They should scrap that option altogether. If employees have to drive for their job, their company can refund them for the number of km actually driven. That’s what the government does for its own employees. And for jobs requiring constant driving, then yes a company car can be provided. But those should be the exception.
It’s just mind boggling that our society (including its poorer members) should pay for other (usually middle class and above) people’s private trips with their subsidized cars.
Public transport is a joke, everybody takes the car. Nobody lives close to where they work because fuck convenience…
“What will I do if they remove tax break on cars, my budget to run it is 500 euros/month between buy a new one every 5 years gas, tires and maintenance, I cannot afford it if I have to pay for it all myself”.
FUCKING MOVE you idiot, go live where you can afford the commute or change where you work.
“If I don’t get a brand new car thanks to subsidies I will pollute more because I will have an older model.”
Is the equivalent of :
“If the plastic bags for trash get too expansive there will be more pollution because I will throw my trash in middle of nowhere or highway exits.”
By the way thank you everyone for driving 2 tons SUVs while you’re alone in the car 99% of the time.
There’s no way I would have a car without this system, especially a comparatively expensive one. Absolutely insane that high taxes pay for this.
Compromise because that is the Belgian way:
Make rules for company cars more strict. If they exist then atleast make them adhere to the highest eco standards. Also limit the kind of car based on the job. Not everyone needs a suv (arguably nobody needs one) . Put a price limit on it, it should be practical not a status symbol.
Make company cars carry a huge sticker with the company logo on all sides. I know a lot of people who would not drive a car if they needed to do this.
Received yesterday a mail from HR:
– we’re happy to announce you guys that we’re offering you a 3,56% pay raise (you don’t offer anything, you twat. it’s the law)
– due to changes in benefit in kind amount re-company cars, employees will have a to pay around 30€/month more for their cars. (cheers, my indexation disappeared as soon as it appeared)
If you want to go ahead with electrification you need company cars: high CAPEX, low OPEX. Companies value this, individuals far less.
Not in our tax climate no
Netherlands:
1 tot € 69.399 37,07%
2 vanaf € 69.399 49,50%
Belgium:
Schijf 3 Van 23.720 euro tot 41.060 euro 45 %
Schijf 4 Meer dan 41.060 euro 50 %
​
What the actual fuck :’) Is anyone surprised really? It’s literally a way for remuneration without getting f’d by the insanely criminal income taxes.
I’m officially a grensarbeider now.
I live close to a train station, fairly central, and there’s a line going straight to where I work, which is one of the busiest train stations in the country.
There is one (1) train per hour during rush hour. Absolutely ridiculous.
Bus/tram takes almost as long as walking. Riding a bike is not an option as there is no shower available.
Even when stuck in traffic, the car is twice as fast as the alternatives.
THIS is the real problem with company cars. That the public transport options are so incredibly inefficient that even those of us who wouldn’t have any issues handing in the car are more or less forced to take the car in order to not add literally over an hour in traffic – per day. Almost a full workday per week of unpaid travel and lower compensation… No thanks.
Lower.. the.. taxes..
A car leased for 499 a month is often valued higher than a (bruto) pay increase of 499 a month. In part due to taxation, but also because it removes the hassle of having to get a car and worry about resale value.
I tried offering a mobility budget instead but when giving them the option… Only employees who don’t live in a big city seem interested.
A lot is being said about this being subsidised. But what they actually mean is that the company car is taxed lower than salary. Is a lower tax the same as a subsidy? Then every 6% VAT instead of 21% is in effect a subsidy.
The solution is quite simple. Change the tax system to make employees get more netto remuneration. It is insane that the highest scale starts at 41060 and that bonuses are taxed so heavily.
It has NOTHING to do with “the safer option”… It has everything to do with the “Crappier than crap public transport”
With my car= between 15 and 20 minutes 7.45 – 8.00
Bus: 45 minuts 6.45 – 7.30 and wait 30 minutes in the cold before I can get in
Train: 1 hour and 5 minutes 5.15 – 6.20 and wait 1 hour and 40 minutes in the cold
17 comments
We’re really going to end up in a situation where 90% of people drive a salary car and we’ll think it’s normal for fucks sake
I guess I’ll get shot down for this … but is it really a problem and is it not what the politics secretly need to make the green agenda work ?
The negative effects op this are very much on the receiving end. The salary you get is lower on paper, that count less for your pension, not sure the next company will give the car, …
Other then that, it would be great to be able to have an alternative (like cash 4 car but that actually pays you a correct amount of money), but it would not make me drive less and I would replace the always new hybrid or EV with a cheap ol diesel or gas car like most. I don’t car about the fancy car, I care about the cost as soon as I have to pay for it, the green agenda is immediately unimportant.
(I already build a house following the recent standard, I did my part in overspending for useless rules, I’m done fixing the ‘climat’)
Edit: and yeah, the fact that a car is the most popular going to work … come on, what really are the options. My job is 1,5h away (with traffic jam included) once a week. By bike-train-tram to get there is it 2,5h.
Treat the disease. Not the symptoms.
Company cars exist because taxation in Belgium is too high. Lower taxes by lowering government expenses and the incentives for company cars will disappear by themselves.
[here is a map of where company cars are located](https://journals.openedition.org/brussels/docannexe/image/1533/img-1-small480.png)
are you people really telling me that all those Beverly Hills wannabes in the 2 brabants need a car to get into Brussels and not just a proper train infrastructure (not the stupid “RER” that does nothing) and less NIMBYism in general?
stop pretending this is the “working man’s struggle”. In any other European country the two Brabants would be better connected to Brussels.
As always, the salary car prevails, even if it’s a completely idiotic concept both from a climatic perspective and a social justice perspective. They should scrap that option altogether. If employees have to drive for their job, their company can refund them for the number of km actually driven. That’s what the government does for its own employees. And for jobs requiring constant driving, then yes a company car can be provided. But those should be the exception.
It’s just mind boggling that our society (including its poorer members) should pay for other (usually middle class and above) people’s private trips with their subsidized cars.
Public transport is a joke, everybody takes the car. Nobody lives close to where they work because fuck convenience…
“What will I do if they remove tax break on cars, my budget to run it is 500 euros/month between buy a new one every 5 years gas, tires and maintenance, I cannot afford it if I have to pay for it all myself”.
FUCKING MOVE you idiot, go live where you can afford the commute or change where you work.
“If I don’t get a brand new car thanks to subsidies I will pollute more because I will have an older model.”
Is the equivalent of :
“If the plastic bags for trash get too expansive there will be more pollution because I will throw my trash in middle of nowhere or highway exits.”
By the way thank you everyone for driving 2 tons SUVs while you’re alone in the car 99% of the time.
There’s no way I would have a car without this system, especially a comparatively expensive one. Absolutely insane that high taxes pay for this.
Compromise because that is the Belgian way:
Make rules for company cars more strict. If they exist then atleast make them adhere to the highest eco standards. Also limit the kind of car based on the job. Not everyone needs a suv (arguably nobody needs one) . Put a price limit on it, it should be practical not a status symbol.
Make company cars carry a huge sticker with the company logo on all sides. I know a lot of people who would not drive a car if they needed to do this.
Received yesterday a mail from HR:
– we’re happy to announce you guys that we’re offering you a 3,56% pay raise (you don’t offer anything, you twat. it’s the law)
– due to changes in benefit in kind amount re-company cars, employees will have a to pay around 30€/month more for their cars. (cheers, my indexation disappeared as soon as it appeared)
If you want to go ahead with electrification you need company cars: high CAPEX, low OPEX. Companies value this, individuals far less.
Not in our tax climate no
Netherlands:
1 tot € 69.399 37,07%
2 vanaf € 69.399 49,50%
Belgium:
Schijf 3 Van 23.720 euro tot 41.060 euro 45 %
Schijf 4 Meer dan 41.060 euro 50 %
​
What the actual fuck :’) Is anyone surprised really? It’s literally a way for remuneration without getting f’d by the insanely criminal income taxes.
I’m officially a grensarbeider now.
I live close to a train station, fairly central, and there’s a line going straight to where I work, which is one of the busiest train stations in the country.
There is one (1) train per hour during rush hour. Absolutely ridiculous.
Bus/tram takes almost as long as walking. Riding a bike is not an option as there is no shower available.
Even when stuck in traffic, the car is twice as fast as the alternatives.
THIS is the real problem with company cars. That the public transport options are so incredibly inefficient that even those of us who wouldn’t have any issues handing in the car are more or less forced to take the car in order to not add literally over an hour in traffic – per day. Almost a full workday per week of unpaid travel and lower compensation… No thanks.
Lower.. the.. taxes..
A car leased for 499 a month is often valued higher than a (bruto) pay increase of 499 a month. In part due to taxation, but also because it removes the hassle of having to get a car and worry about resale value.
I tried offering a mobility budget instead but when giving them the option… Only employees who don’t live in a big city seem interested.
A lot is being said about this being subsidised. But what they actually mean is that the company car is taxed lower than salary. Is a lower tax the same as a subsidy? Then every 6% VAT instead of 21% is in effect a subsidy.
The solution is quite simple. Change the tax system to make employees get more netto remuneration. It is insane that the highest scale starts at 41060 and that bonuses are taxed so heavily.
It has NOTHING to do with “the safer option”… It has everything to do with the “Crappier than crap public transport”
With my car= between 15 and 20 minutes 7.45 – 8.00
Bus: 45 minuts 6.45 – 7.30 and wait 30 minutes in the cold before I can get in
Train: 1 hour and 5 minutes 5.15 – 6.20 and wait 1 hour and 40 minutes in the cold
I’ll take the car thanks