Jordan Williams: Never a better time for tax relief

Prime Minister Bill English, right, and Finance Minister Steven Joyce. Photo / Mark Mitchell

• Jordan Williams is executive director of the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

The National Party's election into government in 2008 was partly driven by John Key positioning the National Party as the substitute for Helen Clark and Michael Cullen's ideological opposition to tax relief.

But despite the talk, it has never walked the walk. Now the Government is, finally, able to afford meaningful tax relief but it appears to be saying, "we know how to spend your money better than you do".

There are hundreds of groups that will seize the opportunity. The squeals for more public spending on pet projects - albino snails, art subsidies, industry grants, there's a group for every cause.

Nothing drives calls for more spending, and is as scary for taxpayers, than the Budget in surplus.

Unfortunately, Bill English is responding to that political weather. Pre-budget announcements suggest his fiscal restraint has gone out the window. More corporate welfare through R&D grants for hand-picked businesses, another $303 million for multinational film company subsidies, $27m to do up marae ...

The Government will also throw more money on to the housing demand bonfire (driving up prices and making the problem worse). Sometimes it is easier to throw money around, rather than fix a problem, especially in an election year.

Earlier in the month, Finance Minister Steven Joyce announced a new Government debt target of between 10 and 15 per cent of total domestic product by 2025. At first, that sounds reasonable, especially given that a loan drawn by the Government today is simply a higher tax burden tomorrow.

But the lower target assumes that the New Zealand Government has a debt problem. It does not. At 24 per cent of GDP, New Zealand's government net debt position is very healthy compared to other members of the OECD.

The International Monetary Fund has warned that New Zealand's economy is vulnerable to external shocks because of our indebtedness to the rest of the world.

But, unlike comparable economies, our debt is mostly borrowed by private households and business, not the Government. It warned that household debt (an astronomical 168 per cent of disposable income) risks destabilising the economy should a global shock lead to conditions that make it difficult for Kiwis to repay their mortgages.

That is a big reason why tax relief is so important. Because Bill English has not adjusted income tax thresholds to match wage inflation, Kiwi workers are paying a much higher proportion of their income in tax. The effects since 2011 cost about $26 per week for the average worker.

Tax relief less than that, is no more than catch up. Tax relief would allow all households and business to pay down their debt.

A package, appropriately targeted, would also have the effect of incentivising wealth creation, hard work, and fuelling economic aspiration and growth.

Instead of using the surplus to reduce the tax burden and allow New Zealanders to get ahead under their own steam, the Government is throwing money at favoured causes and industries the media deem as sexy.

By 2020, Government surpluses are expected to be $8.5 billion per year. That is so large, even ACT's tax cut package could be implemented with billions still left over for new spending and debt repayment.

With Bill English having pumped $10.36b into new spending - and only $415m allocated for tax relief in that time - if now isn't time for meaningful tax relief it never will be.