One can argue in favor of taxing large inheritances. Or against. In Austria, an age-old political debate is currently experiencing its rebirth. Whether and which wealth tax should be introduced. Factual arguments are mixed with ideologies, emotions and election campaign strategies.
1. Objectively false, or at best a half-truth, is the perennial claim that estate and gift taxes have been abolished by a party or government. The Constitutional Court ruled in 2007 that the law at the time treated monetary assets and real estate unequally and needed to be amended. Without the court prohibiting wealth tax. But the SPÖ, ÖVP, FPÖ and Greens in their various government partnerships have never been able or willing to agree on a new arrangement since then.
Source: Krone
I am George Kunkel, an author working for Today Times Live. I specialize in opinion pieces and cover stories that are both informative and thought-provoking – helping to shape public discourse on key issues. My work is regularly featured across the network’s many platforms, including print media and social media.
