Too much tax paid: Schwyz does not want to give Volk money back

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We pay too many taxes. The cantons usually absorb losses, but ultimately make large profits. This is evident from an analysis by the liberal think tank Avenir Suisse. Their proposed solution: a tax refund. If a canton receives an unexpected amount of money and does not have heavy debts, it must offset the surplus against the final tax bill. The citizens would therefore get money back.

The initiative sparks discussions. The Blick community is clearly in favor of Avenir Suisse’s proposed solution. A vote of about 1,400 votes shows that 84 percent of readers are in favor of restitution. But the proposal is likely to face political difficulties. This is evident from the example of the canton of Schwyz – one of the cantons with a savings potential of 1,452 francs per household per year.

Schwyz doesn’t mind the suggestion

Even before the Avenir Suisse analysis was published, the cantonal SVP submitted a proposal demanding the taxes be refunded. But the cantonal government wants nothing to do with it. On more than four pages, the canton shows why it does not want “complex and expensive micromanagement”.

In order to be able to pay back taxes at all, the canton of Schwyz would first have to change its constitution. Even if that worked, the bureaucratic calculation effort would be enormous, according to the government. This entails the risk that the additional officers are not needed if the annual accounts are negative.

However, a tax refund would also affect the canton’s contributions to intercantonal financial equalization. This makes financial planning more difficult, the canton writes.

The Schwyzer government therefore argues that subsequent tax increases should also be possible in the event of incorrect downward assessments. This would at least allow additional civil service staff to be deployed each year without having to make a budget commitment.

SVP doesn’t give up

The government council of the canton of Schwyz is convinced that the current instruments are sufficient. “The canton council can set the tax rate every year,” he reminds us – so normal tax reductions are possible.

At the SVP they are not giving up the answer yet. “I understand that the government council does not want to give up its power over the budget,” says canton councilor Thomas Haas (50). “Many points of criticism are incomprehensible and can be resolved with a little good will.” For example, you get the CO₂-Partially reimbursed through health insurance. “It doesn’t require a lot of bureaucracy.”

Source:Blick