In a report to the National Council's Committee for Economic Affairs and Taxation (WAK-N), the National Council's Finance Committee (FK-N) argues in favor of counter-financing tax proposal 17 (SV 17) via an increase in value added tax (VAT) and rejects an increase in salary contributions.
According to the media release of 27 June 2018, FK-N is in favour of the following measures:
- By 13 votes to 9 (2 abstentions), the FK-N pleads for the financing of the SV17 through an increase in VAT and thus against the increase in wage contributions decided by the Council of States. The majority of the nCSNs do not want to place an additional burden on employers and employees and, according to the media release, are in favour of everyone contributing to the counter-financing, which can be achieved by increasing VAT.
- According to the press release, no majority was found for a motion that sought to ensure counter-financing through federal contributions in anticipation of increased tax revenues in the medium term.
- In addition, FK-N has addressed the question of whether the proposal should be split. By 13 votes to 9 (3 abstentions), the FK-N finally voted in favour of splitting the bill into a "Federal Law on Tax Bill 17" (Draft 1) and a "Federal Law on OASI Financing" (Draft 2). The two laws should only be able to enter into force if both are adopted in a possible referendum. On this point, however, the minority of the NFK-N would like to follow the Council of States, which only provides for a (joint) bill.
The FK-N press release is available here (see also the NZZ article of 27 June 2018 and our contribution of 10 June 2018 to the previous parliamentary debate).
