Dear Minister, please, please, INCREASE my income tax by 2.5%.
If Minister Noonan increased our income tax by just 2.5%, the government, on the top rate of tax (41%) would bring in an estimated €1.153 billion in 2013/14, and a 2.5% increase on the standard rate (20%) would bring in an estimated €481 million. Minister, that's a whopping €1.634 BILLION yield. That gives the Minister more than enough to fully fund the Local Authorities in a just an equitable manner. However, we are not asking for a tax increase, we are merely showing that the burden can be carried by all - as it has been for the last 35 years, and not just by a few.
Property Tax is unjust.
Why is it unjust? Since the abolition of domestic Rates, the government have collected several €billions in Stamp Duty, which in individual cases, often amounted to payments well in excess of €40,000. The claim by the government today is that, "It is estimated that Site Value Tax will apply to 1.8 million households and zoned lands that would equate to an estimated further 700,000 houses. At an average of just over €200 per dwelling (or site) this would raises the €530 million full year amount targeted for the Plan period." (national recovery plan 2011-2014: 6.8)
It's now clear that the government have grossly underestimated the yield, since we now know the average payment per year is €585.00 (based on a €300,000 house) giving a minimum yield of €1.06 billion p.a., add to that, the additional 15% of the €585 (€88) which the local authorities will impose, means an average payment of €673 per household, giving a further yield of €158.4 million a year - and that's just for 2013/14.
It is unjust, because only the householder is liable for the tax - we therefore demand its abolition.
Property Tax is inequitable:
Why is it inequitable? Is the householder the only person to flush the toilet and use the public sewage system? Is the householder the only person to use the water coming from the public water mains? Is the householder the only person to avail of public footpaths, public lighting and other perceived public services? If not, then how is it equitable for the householder to be held responsible for funding the Local Authority?
How is it equitable, when a single householder pays twice as much tax as a married couple (presuming both are working) for use of the very same public services?
How is it equitable, if people living in Local Authority housing will not be liable for the tax, based on the value of their property?
How is it equitable, to tax a property holder in the country at the same rate of tax, who does not enjoy the same public services as those in the city, where the value of the house is the same as a house in the city?
Property Tax is Immoral - it is Unjust - it is Inequitable and it must be abolished.
The Government is not honouring the mandate given to them in 2011 - to properly fund Local Authorities. The taxpayer is giving the government the funding necessary, yet the government has decided to reduce the amount due to the Local Authorities thereby preventing them from continuing to provide the services the taxpayer has already paid for.
We now demand on election to office, that the government will within 2 years, bring about a Constitutional Referendum to amend the constitution, prohibiting the government from imposing a tax on the primary residence of each and every citizen.
If Minister Noonan increased our income tax by just 2.5%, the government, on the top rate of tax (41%) would bring in an estimated €1.153 billion in 2013/14, and a 2.5% increase on the standard rate (20%) would bring in an estimated €481 million. Minister, that's a whopping €1.634 BILLION yield. That gives the Minister more than enough to fully fund the Local Authorities in a just an equitable manner. However, we are not asking for a tax increase, we are merely showing that the burden can be carried by all - as it has been for the last 35 years, and not just by a few.
Property Tax is unjust.
Why is it unjust? Since the abolition of domestic Rates, the government have collected several €billions in Stamp Duty, which in individual cases, often amounted to payments well in excess of €40,000. The claim by the government today is that, "It is estimated that Site Value Tax will apply to 1.8 million households and zoned lands that would equate to an estimated further 700,000 houses. At an average of just over €200 per dwelling (or site) this would raises the €530 million full year amount targeted for the Plan period." (national recovery plan 2011-2014: 6.8)
It's now clear that the government have grossly underestimated the yield, since we now know the average payment per year is €585.00 (based on a €300,000 house) giving a minimum yield of €1.06 billion p.a., add to that, the additional 15% of the €585 (€88) which the local authorities will impose, means an average payment of €673 per household, giving a further yield of €158.4 million a year - and that's just for 2013/14.
It is unjust, because only the householder is liable for the tax - we therefore demand its abolition.
Property Tax is inequitable:
Why is it inequitable? Is the householder the only person to flush the toilet and use the public sewage system? Is the householder the only person to use the water coming from the public water mains? Is the householder the only person to avail of public footpaths, public lighting and other perceived public services? If not, then how is it equitable for the householder to be held responsible for funding the Local Authority?
How is it equitable, when a single householder pays twice as much tax as a married couple (presuming both are working) for use of the very same public services?
How is it equitable, if people living in Local Authority housing will not be liable for the tax, based on the value of their property?
How is it equitable, to tax a property holder in the country at the same rate of tax, who does not enjoy the same public services as those in the city, where the value of the house is the same as a house in the city?
Property Tax is Immoral - it is Unjust - it is Inequitable and it must be abolished.
The Government is not honouring the mandate given to them in 2011 - to properly fund Local Authorities. The taxpayer is giving the government the funding necessary, yet the government has decided to reduce the amount due to the Local Authorities thereby preventing them from continuing to provide the services the taxpayer has already paid for.
We now demand on election to office, that the government will within 2 years, bring about a Constitutional Referendum to amend the constitution, prohibiting the government from imposing a tax on the primary residence of each and every citizen.
“In a democracy the poor will have more power than the rich, because there are more of them,
and the will of the majority is supreme.” - Aristotle
and the will of the majority is supreme.” - Aristotle