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PHILIPSBURG--Motorists who have missed the February 28 deadline to pay their 2015 motor vehicle tax can be subjected to vehicle controls set to start after the Heineken Regatta.
Minister of Finance Martin Hassink said on Monday that government would not be granting any extension of the deadline to pay motor vehicle tax.
The deadline to pay motor vehicle tax was February 28 as stipulated in the law. Hassink said in a press release that the provision of licence plates and all related aspects were on schedule this year and therefore no extension was warranted.
Now that the deadline has passed, the Tax Administration will inform the Police Force and a date will be set for motor vehicle controls, Hassink said. This most likely will happen sometime after the Heineken Regatta, he added in a press release issued by the Press Secretariat. Persons who failed to pay their 2015 motor vehicle tax by February 28 could lose the right to their numbers.
A total of 31,028 number plates were ordered for this year. The new plates are orange in colour and bear the words "The Friendly Island" at the top and "St. Maarten" at the bottom, with a photo of the Coat of Arms and an outline of the island imprinted on them. A valid insurance and inspection card are needed for payment to be processed.
The price for the number plates is the same this year: NAf. 12.50 for all types of vehicles and NAf. 7.50 for motorbikes. Motorists with number plates M, P, SXM, MR (ministers), PAR (parliament) will pay NAf. 275 in motor vehicle tax for gas operated vehicles and NAf. 750 for diesel operated ones. Motorists with R plates will pay NAf. 300 for gas operated vehicles and NAf. 750 for diesel operated vehicles. Taxis, BUS, G (group), T (tour busses with 35 passengers or less) pay NAf. 275 for gasoline-operated vehicles and NAf. 550 for diesel-fuel-operated vehicles.
Vehicles with V and Z plates that weigh more than 3,500kg will pay NAf. 1,250 for gasoline- or diesel-fuel-operated vehicles. Vehicles with V plates that weigh less than 3,500kg will pay NAf. 275 for gasoline-operated vehicles and NAf. 750 for diesel-fuel- operated vehicles. Persons with MF (motorbike) plates will pay NAf. 200 and those with MF (mopeds) will pay NAf. 50 in motor vehicle tax.
