Of loopholes and double taxation
2007-08-27
The slew of advisers and bankers engaged in attracting investors
to the CR are faced with a dilemma. The CR is receiving positive
international press for its new 15% flat personal-income tax and
21/20/19 corporate tax. When asked about it, should the CR's
unofficial frontmen smile approvingly or launch into an
explanation of why 15% is really 23% and why 21/20/19 has lots
of "buts" attached? MP Lubomír Zaorálek of ÈSSD is so angry
about the new way of calculating personal tax that he wants to
turn to the Constitutional Court. How can the government make
people pay tax on employer-paid social charges when these
charges aren't income to the taxpayer, he asks? It's a valid
question. As to the advisers and bankers, the really plugged-in
ones can explain to investors with a wink that for anyone who
knows all the new loopholes, the rates can even be lower than
advertised.
[Czech Republic social security health insurance]
|