Residents of Zurich will soon have to pay less tax. The canton will increase the tax deduction for health care premiums. Voters decided on Sunday.
Both a citizens’ initiative of the SVP with this demand and a counter-proposal have been accepted. On the key question, a razor-thin majority of 50.1 percent voted in favor of the counter-proposal. Only 703 votes were decisive.
Subtract 300 francs more
If the counterproposal is accepted, taxpayers in the canton of Zurich can deduct CHF 2,900 (formerly: CHF 2,600) from their taxable income for health insurance contributions. The deduction for child health insurance remains unchanged at CHF 1,300. For the canton and the municipalities, this yields about 45 million francs less tax revenue annually.
The SVP initiative wanted to increase the deduction from CHF 2,600 to CHF 3,600. In addition, the child allowance should have been increased from 1,300 to 1,500 francs. The tax deficits in the canton and the municipalities are estimated at about 150 million francs each.
Besides the SVP, the initiative received support only from the EDU. The counter-proposal received the support of the FDP, EPP, Mitte, as well as SVP and EDU. SP, Groenen, AL and GLP rejected both the initiative and the counter-proposal. (SDA/lha)