Taxation
Taxation is an important part of economic policy – not only in raising revenue for governments to spend, but also in influencing private saving, investment and spending decisions, and for affecting the distribution of income and wealth. Decisions as to what is (or isn’t taxed), and at what rate, are always controversial, and sometimes have unintended consequences.
The tax system should preference new businesses, not small ones
News, Publications, Taxation | 29th September 2020Article in The New Daily, a news site owned by industry superannuation funds, 29th September 2020.
Saul talks to well-known business commentator Peter Switzer
News, Tasmania, Taxation | 17th September 2020Interview with Peter Switzer, 17th September 2020 Saul talks to well-known business commentator Peter Switzer about tax preferences for small business, and his proposal for the re-introduction of what Peter insists on calling a ‘death tax’ in Tasmania
Tassie economist Saul Eslake calls for discussions around tax reform in new report – Tasmania Talks
News, Tasmania, Taxation | 16th September 2020Saul talks to Tasmania Talks’ Aaron Stevens about Reforming Tasmania’s tax system: some options report, 16th Sep 2020.
Reforming Tasmania’s tax system: some options
Tasmania, Taxation | 16th September 2020Paper commissioned by The Australia Institute, Tasmania, and publicly released on 16th September 2020. If preferred, a shorter 2,200 word, 5-page version is available below.
Preferential tax breaks for small business don’t work
News, Taxation | 25th June 2020The Australian, 24th June 2020
Labor’s policy on cash refunds for franking credits
News, Taxation | 14th March 2018Katharine Murphy | Guardian Australia | 14th March, 2018 In mid-March 2018 the Australian Labor Party foreshadowed that, if it formed government after the next election (due in 2019) it would no longer allow ‘franking credits’ (credits which shareholders in Australian companies receive for the tax paid by companies in which they own shares, which […]
More on the taxation treatment of property investment
Housing, Publications, Taxation | 1st February 2018Saul Eslake | Pearls and Irritations | 1st February 2018 A short article published 1st February 2018 on ‘Pearls and Irritations’, the blog curated by former Qantas CEO and Head of the Prime Minister’s Department John Menadue, prompted by the release in January of 2018 of Treasury advice to the Australian Government about the likely […]
Using super for home deposit a ‘thoroughly bad idea’: Economist Saul Eslake
Housing, News, Taxation | 11th April 2017James-Elton Pym | SBS News | 11th April 2017 Letting young people dip into their superannuation to fund house deposits would increase buying power and drive house prices higher, the independent economist has warned. Independent economist Saul Eslake says Liberal backbenchers advocating a plan to allow young people to use their superannuation as a home […]