A reduction from 27.5 percent to 25 percent is required. And: Equal treatment for interest on equity and debt.
According to their self-assessment, only one or one in five knows well or very well about investing on the stock market. 43 percent, on the other hand, do not know their way around very well. A sobering result of a study by the Peter Hajek Public Opinion Strategies institute on behalf of the Aktienforum. And: 40 percent of those surveyed cite a lack of knowledge of the stock market as their main reservation against stock markets. 1,000 people were surveyed – online or by telephone.
Today, the Federation of Austrian Industries and the Aktienforum took these data as an opportunity to present their demands for easier accessibility and the attractiveness of the capital market. The Austrians are still “capital market grouch”, said the President of the Federation of Industrialists Georg Knill. Central demand: The lowering of the capital gains tax on capital gains in securities from 27.5 to 25 percent. And: tax exemption for a one-year retention period. There was already one in Austria, but it was abolished in 2012.
IV President Knill described the Austrians as “capital market grouch” in view of the study results – measures such as those proposed by IV and Aktienforum should help to simplify access to the capital market. After all, according to Aktienforum President Robert Ottel, there is “no alternative” to the capital market in view of the interest on savings deposits.
End of “discrimination” demanded
In addition, IV and Aktienforum would like debt and equity to be treated equally with regard to interest. After all, those with borrowed capital can be tax deductible. Here, however, we are in intensive talks with the Ministry of Finance, says Georg Knill – he expects details and a proposal in the first half of 2021.
In addition, according to the idea of the two institutions, economic and financial education should also be strengthened. Specifically, teaching materials are to be revised and expanded to include financially relevant content.
