Timing of Tax on Large Water Users Still Unknown 耗水費徵收辦法考量水情.經濟延後開徵

Name: Timing of Tax on Large Water Users Still Unknown 耗水費徵收辦法 考量水情.經濟延後開徵 ｜ 公視新聞網 PNN
Uploaded: 2022-11-09T15:41:20+08:00
Description: The Ministry of Economic Affairs was supposed to start taxing large water consumers in July, but postponed the measure citing the domestic water and economic situations. Now, people want to know if th

發布時間：2022/11/9 15:41 更新時間：2022/11/9 21:05

C. Chuang

The Ministry of Economic Affairs was supposed to start taxing large water consumers in July, but postponed the measure citing the domestic water and economic situations. Now, people want to know if the tax will be levied if the annual CPI increase is under two percent.

The Water Resources Agency was supposed to start taxing large water consumers in July. It ultimately decided to postpone the measure, citing the stable water situation and other factors. Now, people are asking if the tax will be levied starting in November 2023.

Wang Mei-hua, Economic Affairs Minister: “We will consider Taiwan's water situation and the global inflation situation and carefully assess the timing of this measure.”

Economic Affairs Minister Wang Mei-hua said the work related to the tax has been completed, and it has been explained to industries. There are concerns that commodity prices will be impacted once the government starts collecting the tax. On Nov. 8, the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics issued a statement saying the CPI in October increased 2.7 percent year-on-year and the growth is slowing and has been under three percent for three straight months. However, the core CPI, which excludes fruits, vegetables, and energy, rose 2.96 percent, the highest level in 14 years.

Lin Te-fu, Legislator (KMT): “If the annual CPI growth is under two percent, then that should be the time to start collecting the tax on large water users. ”
Wang Mei-hua, Economic Affairs Minister: “Stable domestic inflation is one of the factors that we'll consider.”

Chen Ming-wen, Legislator (DPP): “What do you think the cost increase as a percentage will be for these heavy water users?”
Wang Mei-hua, Economic Affairs Minister: “Every company is different and uses different amounts of electricity. We have related analyses. ”

Wang said the tax will be levied before the 2024 presidential election at the latest. Exports fell 0.5 percent year-on-year in October, while the cost of a basket of 17 government-monitored household necessities rose by the highest level in 13.5 years. This means the government will have to find the right time to levy the tax.

原定今年7月經濟部水利署要開徵耗水費，但考量國內水情穩定等因素，暫緩開徵。外界關心，耗水費的開徵時間有沒有可能在明年11月上路?

經濟部長王美花回應：「斟酌台灣的水情，還有國際的通膨的情形，會仔細來評估這個實施的時間點。」

王美花說，目前已經做好耗水費徵收作業的相關配套，也和產業界做好溝通和說明 !，就怕開徵耗水費上路後會連帶衝民生物價，根據行政院主計總處，昨（8）日公布10月消費者物價指數，年增2.7%漲幅趨緩，連續3個月都低於3%。不過扣除蔬果和能源後，核心CPI漲幅2.96%卻創14年新高。

國民黨立委林德福表示：「消費者物價指數年增率低於2%，應該就是要開徵啟動耗水費的時間點。」

經濟部長王美花說明：「如果國內的通膨穩定，也確實是我們考量的一個因素之一。」

民進黨立委陳明文提問：「你認為對這些用水大戶的增加，會大概增加多少%的成本？」

王美花解釋：「因為每一家的廠商不太一樣，用電多少，我們有這個相關的評估。」

王美花強調最晚2024總統大選前就會開徵耗水費，只是眼看國內10月出口年減0.5%連兩黑，加上17項民生物資也創13年半最大漲幅，耗水費上路時機，相關部會還得審慎研議。