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Are there any other goods taxed after quantity rather than a sales tax? It seems complicated. EDIT: Ah, cigarettes and alcohol (in the US) apparently: https:/

by runj__ 9y ago

Are there any other goods taxed after quantity rather than a sales tax? It seems complicated. EDIT: Ah, cigarettes and alcohol (in the US) apparently: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigarette_taxes_in_the_United_States#State_cigarette_tax_rates https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigarette_taxes_in_the_United_... https://www.cbo.gov/budget-options/2013/44854 https://www.cbo.gov/budget-options/2013/44854 And healthcare: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excise_tax_in_the_United_States#Affordable_care_act_excise_taxes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excise_tax_in_the_United_State...

pmyteh 9y ago
Excise taxes on alcohol are based on quantity (of pure alcohol) not price, at least in the UK. Ditto tobacco. It's not that uncommon.
kgwgk 9y ago
Fuel
olympus 9y ago
Gasoline tax is based on quantity in the USA: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_taxes_in_the_United_States https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_taxes_in_the_United_Sta... It makes sense because gas usage is very correlated with road wear, so people who drive heavier vehicles pay a proportionate share of the road maintenance costs.
- froindt 9y ago
  > It makes sense because gas usage is very correlated with road wear, so people who drive heavier vehicles pay a proportionate share of the road maintenance costs. There are also some cases where it makes no sense, particularly since fuel tax is a primary source of funding for infrastructure and repair. A Toyota Prius and a Ford Focus are both around 3,000 lbs, will do roughly the same damage on the road. The Prius gets 58 mpg city and 53 highway. The Focus is at 30 city 40 highway. So for city driving the Prius driver contributes 1/2 as much to the fuel tax revenues. It's a nice incentive to reduce emissions, however the Prius driver is not contributing proportionally to the fuel tax. If only we could charge make a charge based on weight, mpg, and miles driven.
  - r00fus 9y ago
    The brouhaha over a Prius (or heck, my Focus Electric) not paying fair share of gas taxes is overblown since hybrids and electrics still constitute a minuscule % of total road wear. The issue will come to a head when we have 4x4s and 18 wheelers en masse hybridized or fully electric in large quantities. I don't see that happening for a decade or more out.
    - LyndsySimon 9y ago
      I honestly don't ever see the typical 4x4 being a hybrid. Living in rural Arkansas, almost everyone I know who drives a 4x4 drives an older model, and working on them is a large part of the experience. I drive a 2000 Jeep, and wouldn't even consider buying a hybrid or fully-electric version. A diesel, absolutely, but not anything with a battery pack.

by runj__ 9y ago

pmyteh 9y ago

Excise taxes on alcohol are based on quantity (of pure alcohol) not price, at least in the UK. Ditto tobacco. It's not that uncommon.

kgwgk 9y ago

Fuel

olympus 9y ago

Gasoline tax is based on quantity in the USA: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_taxes_in_the_United_States https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_taxes_in_the_United_Sta... It makes sense because gas usage is very correlated with road wear, so people who drive heavier vehicles pay a proportionate share of the road maintenance costs.

froindt 9y ago
> It makes sense because gas usage is very correlated with road wear, so people who drive heavier vehicles pay a proportionate share of the road maintenance costs. There are also some cases where it makes no sense, particularly since fuel tax is a primary source of funding for infrastructure and repair. A Toyota Prius and a Ford Focus are both around 3,000 lbs, will do roughly the same damage on the road. The Prius gets 58 mpg city and 53 highway. The Focus is at 30 city 40 highway. So for city driving the Prius driver contributes 1/2 as much to the fuel tax revenues. It's a nice incentive to reduce emissions, however the Prius driver is not contributing proportionally to the fuel tax. If only we could charge make a charge based on weight, mpg, and miles driven.
- r00fus 9y ago
  The brouhaha over a Prius (or heck, my Focus Electric) not paying fair share of gas taxes is overblown since hybrids and electrics still constitute a minuscule % of total road wear. The issue will come to a head when we have 4x4s and 18 wheelers en masse hybridized or fully electric in large quantities. I don't see that happening for a decade or more out.
  - LyndsySimon 9y ago
    I honestly don't ever see the typical 4x4 being a hybrid. Living in rural Arkansas, almost everyone I know who drives a 4x4 drives an older model, and working on them is a large part of the experience. I drive a 2000 Jeep, and wouldn't even consider buying a hybrid or fully-electric version. A diesel, absolutely, but not anything with a battery pack.