5 years ago
IMF ENDORSES REFORMS TO NEGATIVE GEARING AND CAPITAL GAINS
CHRIS BOWEN MP
Its groundhog day as not for the first time the International Monetary Fund has recommended the Government reform negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions.
As part of its Article IV Consultations released today the IMF has again recommended the critical need for tax reform around negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions in order to help reduce household leverage in the real estate market.
“Within the context of a broader tax reform, gradual lowering of capital gains discounts and limits on negative gearing for investors would reduce structural incentives for leveraged investment by households, including in residential real estate”
[IMF 2018 Article IV Consultation, para 40, page 19]
This comes on the back several former advice from the IMF, the Grattan Institute, independent economists like Saul Eslake and importantly the Government’s own Financial Systems Review which found these concessions encourage excess leverage and speculation in the housing market.
If the government needed a reminder, the 2017 IMF Article IV Consultation made a similar recommendation to reform negative gearing and capital gains concessions.
“The capital gains discounts on housing should be reduced and other tax incentives limited."
[IMF 2017 Article IV Consultation, para 57, page 24]
Labor remains the only major political party with housing affordability policies that: put first home buyers on a level playing field with investors, return revenue to the Budget bottom-line, and promote financial stability.
And in a passing shot at the government’s own politically charged budget strategy, the IMF has criticised the Government’s “rigid” tax-to-GDP cap because it may not allow the government to run sustained budget surpluses.
“…a rigid interpretation of the cap on Commonwealth tax revenue of 23.9 percent of GDP formalized in the FY2018/19 budget might not be consistent with the principle of running sustained budget surpluses in good times”
[IMF 2018 Article IV Consultation, para 21, page 13]
This highlights what Labor has been saying for some time – Australia needs bigger budget surpluses at a time of international uncertainty and when global economic conditions are more benign.
Labor is the only party willing to undertake real tax reform, while also ensuring we have bigger budget surpluses to build fiscal buffers while economic circumstances allow.
As part of its Article IV Consultations released today the IMF has again recommended the critical need for tax reform around negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions in order to help reduce household leverage in the real estate market.
“Within the context of a broader tax reform, gradual lowering of capital gains discounts and limits on negative gearing for investors would reduce structural incentives for leveraged investment by households, including in residential real estate”
[IMF 2018 Article IV Consultation, para 40, page 19]
This comes on the back several former advice from the IMF, the Grattan Institute, independent economists like Saul Eslake and importantly the Government’s own Financial Systems Review which found these concessions encourage excess leverage and speculation in the housing market.
If the government needed a reminder, the 2017 IMF Article IV Consultation made a similar recommendation to reform negative gearing and capital gains concessions.
“The capital gains discounts on housing should be reduced and other tax incentives limited."
[IMF 2017 Article IV Consultation, para 57, page 24]
Labor remains the only major political party with housing affordability policies that: put first home buyers on a level playing field with investors, return revenue to the Budget bottom-line, and promote financial stability.
And in a passing shot at the government’s own politically charged budget strategy, the IMF has criticised the Government’s “rigid” tax-to-GDP cap because it may not allow the government to run sustained budget surpluses.
“…a rigid interpretation of the cap on Commonwealth tax revenue of 23.9 percent of GDP formalized in the FY2018/19 budget might not be consistent with the principle of running sustained budget surpluses in good times”
[IMF 2018 Article IV Consultation, para 21, page 13]
This highlights what Labor has been saying for some time – Australia needs bigger budget surpluses at a time of international uncertainty and when global economic conditions are more benign.
Labor is the only party willing to undertake real tax reform, while also ensuring we have bigger budget surpluses to build fiscal buffers while economic circumstances allow.