During a recent press statement, the Federal Planning Bureau announced that a possible wealth tax could raise between €2.9 and €4.7 billion.
Yet, by the Planning Bureau's own admission, this study is based on an “experimental” methodology whose criteria remain questionable, given that there is no wealth cadastre in our country.
For MR group leader in the Chamber Benoit Piedboeuf, the coming electoral period must leave no room for uncertainty. “We expect the Federal Planning Bureau to show all the rigour required in the future costing of parties' electoral programmes. Based on the criteria used in this latest study, one could imagine farmers being targeted, given that they are major landowners, which would be absurd! Or the long-standing owner of their home in Brussels or Antwerp, who would have to pay a new wealth tax because of price inflation. Even though they already have to pay all the other property taxes.”
The Federal Planning Bureau acknowledged risks linked to the implementation of the net wealth tax (IPN), namely significant administrative costs and the risk of double, or even triple, taxation of household wealth. This tax could affect part of the middle class, which is not necessarily the intended target of proposals to introduce such a tax.
“This is obviously unacceptable to us. I understand that the PTB and part of the left are pleased about the creation of a new tax. However, I question the wisdom of releasing this information to the press only to qualify it a few hours later, by clarifying that the study does not take into account the negative macroeconomic effects on investment, entrepreneurship and growth.”
“Minister Dermagne, who shares oversight of the Federal Planning Bureau, should be concerned about the methodology used as well as the timing of such a statement. We will raise the question shortly in committee,” concludes Benoit Piedboeuf.