Back to the creepy stuff. Well, he did it. Despite my impassioned plea in this column in February last year, Finance Minister Michael Cullen took away our chewing gum tax cut in the recent Budget. And we’re much bigger losers than most people realise.
Readers respond on KiwiSaver tax breaks. Three readers were unhappy with my last column, in which I said the KiwiSaver tax breaks expected in the upcoming Budget will benefit only some people, at the expense of New Zealand as a whole.
Think again about those KiwiSaver tax breaks. Many readers were no doubt pleased to hear of Winston Peters’ recent hints that the May 17 Budget will include tax breaks in the KiwiSaver retirement savings scheme. But only some will benefit — and it will be at the expense of others, and the country as a whole.
Q&As: A tax on house sales, to subsidise first home owners, is a lovely idea that wouldn’t work; Renting and saving elsewhere can leave you better off than home ownership; Semi-retired couple who sold their home and rent are probably doing fine.
Q&As: A year-old letter shows the danger in trying to predict what the Kiwi dollar will do; “Plodders” wonder how to match the investments of their landlord friends; Traders in shares beyond Australasia no longer pay the old tax on capital gains; How about taxing rental property the same way as international shares?
New tax rules not so bad. As the new tax regime on shares in countries beyond Australasia takes effect, many taxpayers seem to think it’s tougher than it really is.
Q&As: Have you got what it takes to borrow to invest in a share fund?; How frequent traders in international shares will be taxed under the new rules; How Inland Revenue might catch property traders.
Q&As: Should we blame the banks for soaring house prices?; 2 Q&As on the new fair dividend rate tax on non-Australasian shares — the threshold, and trying to get around the rules; 2 Q&As on home equity release — lifetime interest rates and break fees if you change your mind.
KiwiSaver enticing enough already. KiwiSaver, the new retirement savings scheme starting July 1, is coming in for criticism that is doesn’t include more tax incentives. But I’m glad of that.
Q&As: Landlords, beware! Changes being considered in rental property taxation; Reader feels unfairly punished by Reserve Bank’s interest rate hike; The word “secured” in a debenture ad is hardly a warning sign. The company is just following the law.