National Council sinks further tax cut bill

Stamp duty: This slightly outdated term includes a number of very different taxes. They have to pay, for example, to companies that get fresh equity. Or a stock trader who sells stocks. Or someone who takes out liability insurance. The SP will soon be submitting its referendum against the abolition of stamp taxes on equity capital.

Today in the National Council part two of the abolition of stamp taxes should have followed, among other things, it was about the levy on domestic securities or on life insurance. But the council no longer wants to know anything about it and immediately bury the proposal entirely. Center National Councilor Leo Müller had submitted the corresponding application.

His interpretation: «Parliament has come to realize that it does not want to spoil all tax shortfalls. We have Corona debts and there are other projects that have a much better cost-benefit ratio than the template that was sunk today. “

The commoners got frozen feet.

The Federal Council also rejected this round of tax cuts. A number of other tax reduction projects are on the way, said Finance Minister Ueli Maurer in the council. One should concentrate on that now. “At the moment we neither have the financial means to do so, nor is the impact of this reform decisive for the business location.”

Almost unanimously, the National Council buried a bill that would have brought tax relief. That is rare.

Cold Feet among the bourgeoisie?

The left records the matter as a victory for itself. For SP parliamentary group president Roger Nordmann it is clear that the referendum is already acting as a threat. “It’s very simple: the bourgeoisie got frozen feet.” The fear of the upcoming vote on stamp duty part one has moved the bourgeoisie to keep their hands off stamp duty part two. “It would be nice: a referendum that shoots down two stupid proposals instead of just one.”

The bourgeoisie paralyzed by shock? Oh what, says FDP parliamentary group president Beat Walti. “My feet are very warm.” He looks forward to the vote on the first part very confidently. The FDP had to dare to leap over a long shadow of its own.

It may well be that at least certain elements of the stamp duty template were later resumed

Because the idea of ​​abolishing stamp taxes was originally launched by the FDP itself in an initiative – im Year 2009. She always stuck to it – today she called for the funeral of part of her own original. Walti explains: “The idea behind this recommendation is, to put it casually, to leave the five straight.” Because a good part of the FDP demand to abolish stamp taxes has already been fulfilled, so Walti. And a sequel could follow – just later.

Soon to be resurrected from the dead?

Walti addresses the OECD tax reform. This should bring a minimum tax rate for large international companies. These would have to expect higher taxes in Switzerland.

SVP parliamentary group president Thomas Aeschi also justifies SVP’s no to this tax proposal with the following: “In the context of this OECD project, which will lead to higher taxes in Switzerland, you have to look how you can relieve companies in other places so that the bottom line is that there is no additional burden. ” Therefore it could well be that at least certain elements of the stamp tax bill would be resumed later.

In other words: What was buried today can soon be resurrected.