Finance Act 1995

8 In Schedule 1 to the 1994 Act the following shall be substituted for Part III (hackney carriages)—

“Part III Buses

3 (1) The annual rate of vehicle excise duty applicable to a bus is—

(a) if its seating capacity is nine to sixteen, the same as the basic goods vehicle rate;

(b) if its seating capacity is seventeen to thirty-five, 133 per cent. of the basic goods vehicle rate;

(c) if its seating capacity is thirty-six to sixty, 200 per cent. of the basic goods vehicle rate;

(d) if its seating capacity is over sixty, 300 per cent. of the basic goods vehicle rate.

(2) In this paragraph “bus” means a vehicle which—

(a) is a public service vehicle (within the meaning given by section 1 of the [1981 c. 14.] Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981), and

(b) is not an excepted vehicle.

(3) For the purposes of this paragraph an excepted vehicle is—

(a) a vehicle which has a seating capacity under nine,

(b) a vehicle which is a community bus,

(c) a vehicle used under a permit granted under section 19 of the [1985 c. 67.] Transport Act 1985 (educational and other bodies) and used in circumstances where the requirements mentioned in subsection (2) of that section are met, or

(d) a vehicle used under a permit granted under section 10B of the [1967 c. 37 (N.I.).] Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 (educational and other bodies) and used in circumstances where the requirements mentioned in subsection (2) of that section are met.

(4) In sub-paragraph (3)(b) “community bus” means a vehicle—

(a) used on public roads solely in accordance with a community bus permit (within the meaning given by section 22 of the [1985 c. 67.] Transport Act 1985), and

(b) not used for providing a service under an agreement providing for service subsidies (within the meaning given by section 63(10)(b) of that Act).

(5) For the purposes of this paragraph the seating capacity of a vehicle shall be determined in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(6) In sub-paragraph (1) references to the basic goods vehicle rate are to the rate applicable, by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 9, to a rigid goods vehicle which falls within column (3) of the table in that sub-paragraph and has a revenue weight exceeding 3,500 kilograms and not exceeding 7,500 kilograms.

(7) Where an amount arrived at in accordance with sub-paragraph (1)(b), (c) or (d) is an amount—

(a) which is not a multiple of £10, and

(b) which on division by ten does not produce a remainder of £5,

the rate is the amount arrived at rounded (either up or down) to the nearest amount which is a multiple of £10.

(8) Where an amount arrived at in accordance with sub-paragraph (1)(b), (c) or (d) is an amount which on division by ten produces a remainder of £5, the rate is the amount arrived at increased by £5.”