Petrol excise cut at risk if parliament rejects tax plan

The cabinet is again holding talks with opposition parties to win support for next year's tax plan, but the first day brought no breakthrough. D66, CDA and VVD first consulted among themselves on concessions, then spoke with JA21 and BBB.

The plan sets out how taxes will work in the coming years. It includes extending the reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by one year, until the end of 2027, and a cut in the starter's deduction (startersaftrek) for entrepreneurs. The cabinet warned that if parliament votes the plan down, the petrol excise cut will go too.

The vote is planned for 12 November. The Tax Administration needs time to implement the measures, so the plan cannot be delayed for long. Talks with 50Plus, BBB, Pro and Volt, among others, are on the agenda for tomorrow. The cabinet will sit down again with seven parties: Pro, JA21, BBB, SGP, ChristenUnie, 50Plus and Volt.

JA21 leader Eerdmans wants firm guarantees that the dispersal law (spreidingswet) will not force municipalities to take in asylum seekers. Asylum minister Bart van den Brink said earlier that he is aiming for that but cannot give firm guarantees. Eerdmans says the cabinet is unwilling to budge, and that if that does not change, "they will have to turn to the left".

BBB parliamentary leader Vermeer says his party cannot back the plan without substantial changes to the nitrogen plans; small adjustments are not enough. He called the €350m the cabinet wants to set aside to soften planned tax increases "a drop in the ocean". Prime minister Jetten urged parties to let the talks "really be about the plan itself", saying the cabinet has many plans that are better for people and businesses.

There is also no solution yet on how to fund the box 3 plan of minister Heinen, which most of the Tweede Kamer broadly supports. The cabinet withdrew a plan to make smaller savers and investors contribute after criticism.