Capital gains battle heats up

While the country waits for the Government’s response to the Tax Working Group’s recommendation that a capital gains tax be introduced, heated debate over the issue continues.

The latest force to enter the fray is a group called Tax Justice Aotearoa, which is promoting a petition that calls for the Government to “join the modern world” and introduce a capital gains tax.

The group’s organisers Louise Delany and Paul Barber argue that New Zealand’s tax system is unbalanced and unfair and that the debate over tax is being dominated by wealthy property owners.

“We seek a fairer society through tax reform,” they say. “We represent the growing number of people who wish to see greater transparency, equality and fairness in national and global tax systems.”

However, despite a well-publicised campaign launch, it has been reported that more journalists than members of the public attended the launch. As at 10am Tuesday (a day after the launch), just over 1,000 people had signed the petition.

On the other side of the battle field, the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union launched its campaign against a capital gains tax last week.

Taxpayers’ Union executive director Jordan Williams says the capital gains tax proposed by the TWG would be the least fair, most punitive in the world.

They are calling on the Government to reject the TWG’s recommendations outright.

“While Dr Cullen is trying to convince the public that this is a tax on the wealthy, most New Zealanders will be hit by the tax at some point in their life.

“If you own your own home but have flatmates, live on a lifestyle block, have a small business, have a rental property for retirement, or have a KiwiSaver account, you will be targeted under Dr Cullen’s proposals.”

Williams says they aim to enable taxpayers to ensure politicians hear from those who will be personally affected by the tax.

To that end, they have launched a tool called Axe This Tax. It allows people to email Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters to tell them how they will be affected by a capital gains tax.

Both the National Party and the ACT Party are already actively campaigning against the introduction of a capital gains tax. National Party leader Simon Bridges has also pledged to repeal any capital gain tax introduced when his party returns to power.

Meanwhile, a new Business NZ commissioned poll shows that 65% of respondents don't think a capital gains tax should be a priority for the Government; 54.3% don't think there should be a tax on businesses and farms; and 49.8% don't think there should be a CGT on property.

The Government is expected to announce its final decision on the TWG’s proposals at the end of April but if they do decide to introduce a capital gains tax it won’t come into play until 2021.

Read more:

Capital gains tax on the cards 

Outrage over CGT recommendation 

Scope of CGT likely to narrow