Prices continue to rise, but the interest on the savings account remains at zero. It is therefore “high time” for Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) that more Austrians invest some of their money in stocks that promise higher returns.
“It’s about precaution and not speculation – not even for young people,” he says, with a view to a planned retention period of one to three years. Anyone holding shares for that long is exempt from capital gains tax (27.5%). Brunner: “We have sent the coalition partner a finished concept.”
What that looks like, Brunner outlines in the TV discussion of “Club 3” of “Kronen Zeitung”, “Kurier” and “profil”: For example, there are conceivable maximum limits within which the tax exemption should apply, or that a share in Shares of sustainable companies should be invested. Brunner wants to introduce this quickly, “certainly in this legislature”.
“One-time” solution
As for Chancellor Nehammer’s demand to hedge the extra profits from electricity suppliers, experts from the Treasury Department are now exploring several options. According to Brunner, this could be a special dividend or another solution. “At least it has to be unique.” In the medium term, the system must be adapted at EU level, whereby the electricity price is based on the most expensive (gas) plant.
The current high expenditure (tax reform, relief package, etc.) is necessary. In the long run, however, Brunner wants to return public finances to a balanced budget.
In “Club 3” the editors-in-chief of “Krone”, “Kurier” & “profil” talk to guests from politics, business and the media.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
