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Taxes after the elections?
The domestic event of the week, month, perhaps even year – parliamentary elections. We are deciding the direction our country will take for at least the next four years. Such a decision has many parameters and is influenced by a number of factors. In theory, preparation should include studying the election programs, though I am rather concerned that for part of the population, the marketing effect of the last few days will be the deciding factor.
Some people may use election calculators because they want to vote responsibly but don't have time to study the often complicated election programs. I tried one such calculator. Four of the 25 questions are about taxes. Taxes will therefore clearly be an important part of the election programs and may significantly influence voters' decisions.
In order not to be influenced by the expressiveness and intensity of the descriptions in some election programs, I only looked at the dry facts summarized in our tax news from last month.
Almost everyone wants a single collection point, simplified collection and digitization of the process. Well, we can look forward to that. Interestingly, no one is even trying to simplify tax rules and eliminate exceptions anymore. Perhaps this is because historically, everyone wanted to do so and no one succeeded, and the average voter may not understand what they would gain from it.
Investments in technology, research and development, and artificial intelligence are also popular. Whether it's deductions, incentives, accelerated depreciation, etc. Popular, non-controversial, probably no one will object. Similarly, healthcare, small businesses, retirement savings, etc. appear here and there. The same goes for not introducing new taxes, especially green ones. We will collect taxes from large companies and give relief to individuals (because individuals – not large companies – vote in elections).
Of course, there are also some very specific proposals. They may have a controversial fiscal impact, not to mention their systemic nature, but their marketing value will be undeniable. I hate to say it, but some of them may be decisive for certain voters.
Exemption of tips in the restaurant industry from taxes and insurance contributions. Renewed proposal to tax digital assets in the same way as shares, i.e. almost not at all. Abolition of VAT on medicines and a reduction on healthy foods and beverages. Liberation of the "false self-employment system." Exempt thirteenth salary. Tax-free allowances for unit commanders and volunteer firefighter engineers.
One possible interpretation is that the average Czech voter is a restaurant worker with lots of bitcoin, working as independent contractor, a fan of healthy eating, who spends their free time as an engineer with the volunteer fire department. The second – and, in my opinion, more likely – interpretation is that we are once again using taxes for something that should be addressed in a completely different way.
This leads me to the grim conclusion that taxes will never be simpler because elections are too frequent and the temptation to use them to achieve other goals is too great. But let's go to the polls with parameters other than taxes in mind.