Generally I have no problem with understanding that a government needs to find sources of revenue. To do this it requires people to pay one form of taxation or another. I do however have a problem with LAND TAX in the Australian Capital Territory.
In South Australia: "Land Tax is an annual tax based on land ownership", in NSW: "Land tax is a tax levied on the owners of land in NSW as at midnight on 31 December of each year." in Victoria: "The Land Tax Act 1958 imposes an annual tax on the total unimproved value of all land owned in Victoria at midnight on 31 December of the year preceding the year of assessment." In Western Australia: "Land Tax is an annual tax based on the ownership and usage of land owned at midnight on 30 June."
It is not the notion of taxing income producing landholdings that is abhorrent to me. It is not that I am opposed to such a tax on any principle that I can think of.
I have a problem with this tax simply because it is not possible for an individual to own land in this Territory.
The Commonwealth government (or more to the point the Crown) owns the land and the ACT Government manages it. The absolute maximum that can be obtained in the ACT is a 99 year lease.
Given that one cannot own the land why is it possible for the government to charge Land Tax?
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