Tuesday 16 April
Now is the time to make the decision to increase fairness in our tax system and close the biggest gap caused by the lack
of taxes on wealth in this country, says NZCCSS.
That is why we are joining with the other supporters of Tax Justice Aotearoa to urge the government to move on
implementing a capital gains tax in this country as one of the steps needed to make our tax system fairer and help
reduce inequality and poverty.
The Tax Working Group (TWG) identified the high level of income and wealth inequality in this country as a major
problem. The TWG also said that the tax system is making this worse by not doing enough to reduce inequality. The
recommendation to introduce more taxation of capital gains is a good first step to help rebalance our tax system that
currently favours those with wealth and high incomes.
The communities that NZCCSS member organisations work in all hope for better housing, good hospitals and health care,
schools where they can learn well. They want to have their waterways, beaches and forests looked after well and the
chance to live well into the future. All those who live in this country need to contribute fairly from their different
sources of income.
A capital gains tax helps makes that possible when combined with other steps to help make the system fairer. Other steps
include reducing income tax on lower incomes, a higher tax on the highest in income earners, and increasing transfers
through the welfare system to people needing support.
ends