Originally Posted by
Aaron
SBQ don't know if you noticed but the "tax refund" companies have all but disappeared. Not even sure what your point is regarding PAYE. The tax system largely relies on honesty and maybe fear of the IRD and their powers and penalties. Wage workers largely don't need to worry about tax returns anymore it is all done for them through the employer deductions and IRD being able to calculate the tax based on the information provided. Most investment income is also taxed at source and the information and taxes forwarded to IRD.
Regarding going to Aussie "more resources to fund more social programs like mental disabilities (autism in education), health care, and above all, they're not concern about some aboriginal cultural narrative like we have going on in NZ. "
That seems to refute your earlier statement "that I can't think of a greater incentive for an individual to want to earn more $$$, be more productive, than by telling them they can keep more of their after tax income?" NZ has much lower taxes and according to you Australia has stronger public institutions (public institutions are usually funded by taxes).
Possibly you are arguing that Australia is growing the pie rather than discussing how the pie is divided. Although Aussie might have a larger pie and more of that pie goes into public institutions through taxation, so it further appears you are weakening your initial statement about taxes.
"Our gov't is weak in NZ, if they wanted to tilt the tables of fairness, they need to tax the rich in wealthy by imposing a CGT on their real estate holdings. Australia and Canada and America does this... why does NZ not do this?"
Finally something I agree with. The answer to your question might not be simple but as I am not an intellectual I would suggest a large reason this does not happen is that a large cohort of a certain voting generation that shall not be named is more concerned about setting themselves up for a comfortable retirement than the future of NZ.
Sounds like Chris Hipkins popularity is declining due to his "captains call" on capital gains tax. Good job he gets what he deserves for being weak. Although in his defence it worked for John Key and Jacinda Ardern and they were both very popular. Maybe NZ is starting to tire of weak leaders pandering to the shi*iest voters.