How does UK capital gains tax compare to other countries?
We have had the spectre of capital gains tax in the UK for many years although lately there have been benefits for those who hold assets for the longer term with a reduction in capital gains tax charges. However, when you consider that the 30 leading countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development do not have rates of capital gains tax in excess of 30%, if assets are held for over three years, it does begin to reflect badly on the UK.
The average rate of capital gains tax amongst these 30 leading countries is 15% although it has to be said that many of these countries do not in fact charge any capital gains tax on investments and assets. The likes of Austria, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany do not charge any capital gains tax but still appear to raise enough money via other taxes to run the country. So why is the UK any different?
Maybe it is the fact that the UK is one of the central investment markets of the world or maybe the fact that historically capital gains tax has always been accepted, perhaps more than other taxes. However, initially it was brought in to tax those in the wealthier brackets but now more and more people are being caught up in the capital gains tax dragnet.
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