A 15% 'used' import tax break saves buyers nothing — so who's pocketing it?

A Customs rule lets a zero-mileage vehicle that's briefly registered overseas get valued 15% lower than the same brand-new model imported by an authorised agent, who pays tax on the full price. The Ceylon Motor Traders' Association says this loophole cost the government about Rs. 40 billion in 2025, and nearly Rs. 54 billion between January and July this year alone. Their bigger complaint: buyers of these 'technically used' imports often don't see that 15% saving on the price tag — it looks like it's staying with the importer as extra margin instead. One side: if the tax cut exists, buyers should get a cheaper car, full stop — authorised dealers just can't compete on price and that's their problem to fix. The other side: if nobody's actually paying 15% less at the showroom, this is just a revenue leak dressed up as a consumer discount, and Customs should close it. Have you bought or priced a 'basically new, paperwork-used' import lately — did the discount actually show up in what you paid, or did the dealer quietly keep it? මේ වට්ටම ඔබේ මිලට පෙනුණාද, නැත්නම් වෙළෙන්දාගේ පෝකට් එකටද ගියේ?