Is Raising Taxes in Fashion?
Day 596, 16:09
•
Published in Austria 
•
by
•
by Rangeley
The Austrian Congress has seen a flurry of proposals to increase taxes. A proposal to raise import taxes on grain from 1% to 15% passed. Another to raise income taxes on houses from 2% to 5% passed. And even now, a proposal to raise income taxes on gifts from 2% to 5% is on the table, currently supported by an 11-3 margin.
In total, 12 proposals have been made to raise taxes since the election of the new congress. While only 3 succeeded (with a 4th on the way,) it nonetheless is a questionable track record. The Austrian Independent poses the question to the congressmen and women who support them - what is the reason for these increases? Are they truly justified, and will they help Austria develop?
Facebook
Twitter
Discord
Comments
What you are seeing is a sycronization of the tax rates. 5% was deemed to be an appropriate level of income tax to generate some revenue for the government without being an undue burden on the economy. To implement this tax the rate had to be reduced on some industries and increased on others. A uniform tax rate is much better than a hodge-podge tax code where whatever industry is most well connected gets special tax treatment.
I agree with the sentiment, but couldn't taxes be uniformly lowered in the name of fairness? Also, is there a goal of 15% on import taxes?
The 15% was just for the grain because we have regions with grain. We want to encourage domestic purchases.
What my congressmen have said is the truth. 🙂
If you want to be uniform and fair, though, does having tariffs on just one industry really jive with that?
> couldn't taxes be uniformly lowered in the name of fairness?
I agree.
Lower taxes will always get my Yes vote, Higher taxes will always get my No vote.
Well since there are no other resources in Austria then they have to be imported so we do not want to raise them all to 15%. We don't want to lower the grain to the price of the others because we want to keep it domestic.
VOTE NO!
re: VOTE NO!
On his proposal to reduce taxes, you mean?
Yeah, he linked this to the proposal for the discussion area.
Interesting, why would you vote no?
The tax proposal makes Moving Ticket Tax identical to Housing and Gifts.
What is the point of advocating a uniform tax rate if you vote against making taxes uniform?
Of what value is a policy of "sycronization" when you vote against syncronisation?
Well I am fine with a decrease in import taxes but not all the way down to 2%. This is a major decrease.