The Zurich government has decided to significantly increase the tax assessment of residential property. This will result in a considerable additional burden for owners of single-family homes and condominiums. The FDP believes that such an increase is inappropriate despite federal legal requirements and criticizes the government for its implementation, which will result in homeowners being fleeced.
“The FDP recognizes that the Canton of Zurich is forced to adjust the valuation of properties and the determination of imputed rental values due to federal law and the decisions of the administrative and tax appeal courts,” said Filippo Leutenegger, party president of the FDP Canton of Zurich. “However, we do not agree with the implementation, which leads to an additional burden on the owners.” Against this background, the implementation of the court decisions would have been acceptable to the FDP if the additional income flowed back in full to the homeowners. In its consultation response this May, the FDP had explicitly demanded that the additional funds be targeted and exclusively used to benefit homeowners. “But the government apparently does not want to know anything about it.”
Further increase in the tax burden – unacceptable for the FDP
Despite its rejection of higher taxation, the FDP supports the introduction of a hardship regulation announced by the government council. The regulation – which was also called for by the FDP – is necessary to prevent taxpayers from getting into financial difficulties due to the higher tax values and possibly having to sell their properties. “A hardship regulation is crucial to ensure that no unreasonable burden is placed on the owners,” says Doris Meier, FDP cantonal councilor and member of the Commission for Economic Affairs and Taxes (WAK). “We are committed to ensuring that all affected taxpayers are treated fairly and that the additional burdens do not lead to social injustice.”
The FDP is calling on the government to reconsider the announced tax increase at the expense of homeowners and to find a financially sustainable and viable solution for house and condominium owners. The FDP will continue to campaign for fair taxation in order to represent the interests of taxpayers. “Housing should remain affordable in the future. It is important to us that the dream of owning a home is once again attainable for more people, especially young people,” said FDP cantonal councilor and WAK member Christian Müller. For this reason, the FDP is currently planning an initiative with the working title “Simplify construction – for more living space.” Its launch was only announced last Saturday at the FDP party conference.
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