Fekter Against Property Taxes

People ♦ Published: September 29, 2012; 20:06 ♦ (Vindobona)

The Austrian Minister of Finance Maria Fekter (ÖVP) would support an income tax reform. Property taxes would not be acceptable, she says.

Fekter Against Property Taxes / Picture: © Wikipedia / World Economic Forum (Heinz Tesarek)

“We must tax profits fairly. But we must not tax the substance.” Thus, a property tax cannot be accepted, she says. “This is only a debate of envy, which may sound popular. That´s counterproductive, though. We would only annoy those who pay most taxes.”

By contrast, the coalition partner SPÖ (social democratic party) reaffirmed their call for an inheritance and property…