Wealthy Kiwis want to pay more tax

[Lilith7]

After 40 odd years of uncaring, greed based Neo Liberalism, its astounding that there are still 90 odd people with a social conscience. Well done them. 

It would an excellent thing if the govt would take heed & do this.



https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/05/11/90-we...-more-tax/


"In an open letter, titled Sharing wealth through paying more tax, 90 of the country's richest addressed "the public and the politicians of Aotearoa New Zealand," and asked that they be made to pay higher tax rates.
The letter bluntly asked politicians to "back a tax system that asks more from those who can most afford it".
"We write as people who are frustrated with how much tax we pay. We want to pay more," the letter opens.


"As people leading financially comfortable lives, we might be expected to be anti-tax. But we recognise tax as a shared contribution to our collective success. It funds everything from the teachers who give our children a great start, to the DOC rangers who look after our environment, through to the health care professionals on whom we all rely."







https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/group-of-r...QDNFHHF7I/


"A group of 96 wealthy New Zealanders are calling on the Government to tax them more.
The group, inspired by the initiative Millionaires for Humanity, says the current tax system contributes towards the gap between poor and the wealthy.
Signatory and Ecostore Founder Malcolm Rands says he doesn’t mind if it’s done through increased income tax, a wealth tax or a capital gains tax.





But he says increases should only apply to the wealthy.

The group wrote an open letter to the public and politicians of Aotearoa explaining how frustrated they are at the amount of tax they pay, and they wish to pay more.
The tax they pay funds everything from teachers to DoC rangers, through to healthcare professionals.

Taxes also pay for the social services and payments that assist communities, including superannuitants, families and individuals needing support. Tax is one way to pay for that.

The group would willingly pay more tax to help lift families out of poverty – an investment that would pay off many times over."

[dken31]

Well I hope they're already putting their money where their mouths are and donating generously to charity. Ironically, that could reduce their tax bills further, if they chose to claim back the 33.33% tax credit, but claiming it is voluntary. There are some great charities already helping to "lift families out of poverty" which the signatories could donate more too; there is no need for them to wait for the government to force them to help out.

[Wainuiguy]

Well I hope they're already putting their money where their mouths are and donating generously to charity.  Ironically, that could reduce their tax bills further, if they chose to claim back the 33.33% tax credit, but claiming it is voluntary.  There are some great charities already helping to "lift families out of poverty" which the signatories could donate more too; there is no need for them to wait for the government to force them to help out.

Nothing stopping them paying more if that is what they want is there?  Or they could chose to donate to social causes, set up their own charities

[Olive]

Well I hope they're already putting their money where their mouths are and donating generously to charity.  Ironically, that could reduce their tax bills further, if they chose to claim back the 33.33% tax credit, but claiming it is voluntary.  There are some great charities already helping to "lift families out of poverty" which the signatories could donate more too; there is no need for them to wait for the government to force them to help out.

The point of tax is that it's a system that should ensure that everyone in the same circumstances pays the same amount.  Paying tax is a collective action to provide collective goods and services.   

It is not useful if people donate randomly to the IRD when they feel like it.   And while charitable donations serve an important purpose, they do not fund collective services like roads, water and public health and education.

[SueDonim]

The government sets the rules for tax and everyone pays what is decreed to be their share. Anyone who wishes to pay more can of course do so, but I think most people who wish to do more for society will pass on giving the government a chance to mismanage even more money, and will choose where it goes. It's called philanthropy and it's alive and well in NZ, just like the rest of the world.

The biggest benefit isn't from just handing over money but comes instead from people doing things that better enable people to help themselves, and understand the flow on benefits to others, plus those who donate to research and development, etc. Everyone has different circumstances and interests and everyone can do their bit without needing it to be mandated. Of course there will always be some who don't do much, but even they might be leaving bequests after they are gone.

[king1]

The government sets the rules for tax and everyone pays what is decreed to be their share. Anyone who wishes to pay more can of course do so, but I think most people who wish to do more for society will pass on giving the government a chance to mismanage even more money, and will choose where it goes. It's called philanthropy and it's alive and well in NZ, just like the rest of the world.

I think the existence of that open letter might suggest a significant number of high net worth New Zealanders disagree with you on that.

[SueDonim]

The government sets the rules for tax and everyone pays what is decreed to be their share. Anyone who wishes to pay more can of course do so, but I think most people who wish to do more for society will pass on giving the government a chance to mismanage even more money, and will choose where it goes. It's called philanthropy and it's alive and well in NZ, just like the rest of the world.

I think the existence of that open letter might suggest a significant number of high net worth New Zealanders disagree with you on that.

So the 90 odd people who wrote the letter can't just decide that they can give the government more money all by themselves? I doubt it.

And what about the thousands (?hundreds of thousands) who already do give more to society than they have to? Should they lose control of where they currently donate their resources?

[Lilith7]

The government sets the rules for tax and everyone pays what is decreed to be their share. Anyone who wishes to pay more can of course do so, but I think most people who wish to do more for society will pass on giving the government a chance to mismanage even more money, and will choose where it goes. It's called philanthropy and it's alive and well in NZ, just like the rest of the world.

I think the existence of that open letter might suggest a significant number of high net worth New Zealanders disagree with you on that.

It looks as though they not only want to pay more taxes in order to help people who are struggling but are also keen to see govt do likewise - which wouldn't  be so terrible. 

Sadly, even the most keen Neo Liberal follower must surely have come to the conclusion by now that 'personal responsibility' just cannot work when so many don't have access to sufficient income to cover basic needs these days.

[Wainuiguy]

I think the existence of that open letter might suggest a significant number of high net worth New Zealanders disagree with you on that.

It looks as though they not only want to pay more taxes in order to help people who are struggling but are also keen to see govt do likewise - which wouldn't  be so terrible. 

Sadly, even the most keen Neo Liberal follower must surely have come to the conclusion by now that 'personal responsibility' just cannot work when so many don't have access to sufficient income to cover basic needs these days.

Surely your not saying we have the resources 
To save the poor from their lot?
There will be poor always, Pathetically struggling
Look at the good things you've got

[Oh_hunnihunni]

It looks as though they not only want to pay more taxes in order to help people who are struggling but are also keen to see govt do likewise - which wouldn't  be so terrible. 

Sadly, even the most keen Neo Liberal follower must surely have come to the conclusion by now that 'personal responsibility' just cannot work when so many don't have access to sufficient income to cover basic needs these days.

Surely your not saying we have the resources 
To save the poor from their lot?
There will be poor always, Pathetically struggling
Look at the good things you've got

Heavens no. Our capitalist system requires a big chunk of the population to be poor enough to be exploited.

[Wainuiguy]

Surely your not saying we have the resources 
To save the poor from their lot?
There will be poor always, Pathetically struggling
Look at the good things you've got

Heavens no. Our capitalist system requires a big chunk of the population to be poor enough to be exploited.

We don't have  capitalist system - at least not a pure one.

We have a socialist/ capitalist mix.  It is getting the balance between both systems that is key.


BtW what I posted earlier is a song.

[Lilith7]

Surely your not saying we have the resources 
To save the poor from their lot?
There will be poor always, Pathetically struggling
Look at the good things you've got

Heavens no. Our capitalist system requires a big chunk of the population to be poor enough to be exploited.

 Indeed - once that chunk was barely noticeable but these days far more people are struggling to make ends meet. 

Almost as though those already well off decided they 'deserved more' & stuck a dirty great sponge into the pool of wealth in order to soak up even more.