Whether there is a CGT introduced in NZ could be relevant if it means that the tax regime for the retirement village owners changes as well. SUM earns what is currently non-taxable capital gains in its investment properties. Also would the tax rulings for village operators change?
However many hurdles - and probably years - need to be scaled by any political party wishing to introduce even an incomplete CGT (omitting owner-occupied real estate). Also what would the government do if SUM and others no longer provided possibly cross-subsidised nursing home and rest home level care?
I think a major goal of most CGT regimes overseas is to broaden the revenue raising base not necessarily to reduce asset prices. The current concentration on taxing income as opposed to taxing wealth or capital gains is an arbitrary one.
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