One of New Zealand’s wealthiest people says he supports a capital gains tax, as new research lays the groundwork for a fresh tax debate.
A two-year investigation by Inland Revenue has found New Zealand’s ultra-rich pay tax at less than half the rateof the average person.
The findings come as no surprise to many, including one of the 311 rich listers who responded to the Government survey.
The man, who did not want to be named, made his fortune on untaxed capital gains but supported taxing those gains - saying it was only fair to bring New Zealand into line with other countries.
However, he said a more broad-brush approach - like a capital gains tax on all properties beyond the family home - would do more for the Government’s revenue.
“You could take all the money off [rich listers] and it would fund the Government for a day. The Government spends about $100 billion a year and taxes about $100 billion a year, so anything that happens needs to materially contribute to the revenue side of things. Otherwise, it’s just the politics of envy.”
Revenue Minister David Parker says the tax report is not an excuse to attack the rich. Photo / Mark Mitchell
In a speech on Tuesday, Revenue Minister David Parker described the report’s findings as “ground-breaking” but would not venture any suggestions as to how the Government might respond.
National Party leader Christopher Luxon says uber-wealthy people pay their fair share of tax. Photo / Mike Scott
Luxon said National would deliver “middle working-class New Zealanders” a tax cut, while Labour was “softening us up for a tax grab”.
Act leader David Seymour criticised the study as a “politically-driven fishing expedition to find people with money and take it from them”.
“[Parker’s] fishing expedition wasn’t about gathering information,” he said. “It was about creating a narrative that he can ride to more taxes on Kiwis.”
On the other side of the argument, Green revenue spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick put up an impassioned argument for a comprehensive capital gains tax or wealth tax.
“The super-rich in Aotearoa are much much richer than we thought them to be,” Swarbrick said.
“To allow millionaires to continue to not pay their fair share after this explosive evidence is a political choice. Poverty is a political choice.”
Te Paati Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi says it is shocking that the ultra-rich pay tax at less than half the rate of the average person. Photo / Alex Cairns
Te Paati Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi told RNZ there was no excuse for inaction.
“It’s just absolutely shocking, cruel and very unkind. Until they do something about it Labour, National and Act will continue to be the bullies at school picking on the poor people.”
The Government was yet to announce a new tax policy but is promising to bring one to this year’s election campaign and Parker has signalled it will be informed by this latest research.
