Post At9Pjwvh3MY637kI2S by VincentTunru@fosstodon.org
 (DIR) More posts by VincentTunru@fosstodon.org
 (DIR) Post #At9F424EYtj0HP78D2 by Gina@fosstodon.org
       2025-04-16T12:09:31Z
       
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       There's an interesting book about to be published by a Dutch fiscal expert who advocates to replace all income based taxes with a single flat tax on wealth, "thus removing pressure from people who derive income from work and giving them a chance to build wealth, plus simplifying our notoriously complex tax system."For context, the Netherlands has one of the worst rates of wealth inequality in the world. Idk I'm curous. 🤔 Link to article without paywall:https://archive.is/FgE0M
       
 (DIR) Post #At9MhW0hrpj07TEpLU by VincentTunru@fosstodon.org
       2025-04-16T13:35:04Z
       
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       @Gina I feel like he would have a stronger argument if he actually mentioned some downsides, rather than claiming that it's just that no one has proposed this before.For example, one downside is that you're no longer discouraging/encouraging certain behaviour ("fiscale prikkels"). No more tobacco levies, no more road tax, etc.And I have a feeling he brushes over the ability to move wealth abroad too easily.That said, the general idea of lowering labour tax and increasing wealth tax: 👍
       
 (DIR) Post #At9PYvqQkLVpV11wVk by Gina@fosstodon.org
       2025-04-16T14:07:06Z
       
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       @VincentTunru Fair, but at the same time that's also what makes the system so convoluted (to the point where the tax revenue services can't even process new tax rules anymore)
       
 (DIR) Post #At9Pjwvh3MY637kI2S by VincentTunru@fosstodon.org
       2025-04-16T14:09:08Z
       
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       @Gina Yep, pros and cons to everything. It's the pretending there are no cons that I'm not a fan of - if we just put the cons out there (and there's probably some I missed), then at least we can discuss whether they're outweighed by the pros.
       
 (DIR) Post #At9aOdK7qqzoeoDC4W by Rastal@mastodon.social
       2025-04-16T16:08:30Z
       
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       @Gina The majority of countries in the Middle East are tax free in the sense that there is no income tax, so what you earn through work you keep. There is however, corporate tax in all ME countries and depending on country: tax on income obtained not through work (investments, stocks, property, etc) or 2% tax on wealth. The system works for everyone.