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The problem is that capital is mobile, and that mobility is arguably increasing due to digitisation. In other words, if a country raises tax rates on returns to

by spangry 10y ago

The problem is that capital is mobile, and that mobility is arguably increasing due to digitisation. In other words, if a country raises tax rates on returns to capital, capital simply relocates somewhere else. I've suggested a solution above (or it might be below by now), but it's complex...

ahelwer 10y ago
USA already has worldwide tax jurisdiction. The more difficult problem with capital taxation is how to accurately value an asset.
- syshum 10y ago
  The USA tries to have a worldwide tax jurisdiction, and fails at it The Large global companies spend millions on ultra complex business structures to avoid US (and EU) taxes. See GE and Apple as the most publicized examples but they all do it
  - ahelwer 10y ago
    Oh, certainly. However, if the US political climate ever reaches the point where a wealth tax is seriously considered (something which would require a constitutional amendment), I very much doubt these loopholes would still exist.
- dragonwriter 10y ago
  That's a problem with ad valorem property taxation, but not a problem with taxing capital income.
dragonwriter 10y ago
> In other words, if a country raises tax rates on returns to capital, capital simply relocates somewhere else. So, you need to tax value extraction as a condition of allowing firms to do business, ideally rebating that against taxes on locally-realized capital gains so that local capital owners aren't unfairly penalized compared to foreign extractors.
peteretep 10y ago
> In other words, if a country raises > tax rates on returns to capital, capital > simply relocates somewhere else. Certainly in the UK, money earned abroad is taxed; this is normal, rather than unusual (like, say, in Thailand, where you're only taxed on money you then bring back to Thailand). Although you can do some dodgy dealing with Non-Domicile status, this puts a kink in any simple capital flight.

by spangry 10y ago

ahelwer 10y ago

USA already has worldwide tax jurisdiction. The more difficult problem with capital taxation is how to accurately value an asset.

syshum 10y ago
The USA tries to have a worldwide tax jurisdiction, and fails at it The Large global companies spend millions on ultra complex business structures to avoid US (and EU) taxes. See GE and Apple as the most publicized examples but they all do it
- ahelwer 10y ago
  Oh, certainly. However, if the US political climate ever reaches the point where a wealth tax is seriously considered (something which would require a constitutional amendment), I very much doubt these loopholes would still exist.
dragonwriter 10y ago
That's a problem with ad valorem property taxation, but not a problem with taxing capital income.

dragonwriter 10y ago

> In other words, if a country raises tax rates on returns to capital, capital simply relocates somewhere else. So, you need to tax value extraction as a condition of allowing firms to do business, ideally rebating that against taxes on locally-realized capital gains so that local capital owners aren't unfairly penalized compared to foreign extractors.

peteretep 10y ago

> In other words, if a country raises > tax rates on returns to capital, capital > simply relocates somewhere else. Certainly in the UK, money earned abroad is taxed; this is normal, rather than unusual (like, say, in Thailand, where you're only taxed on money you then bring back to Thailand). Although you can do some dodgy dealing with Non-Domicile status, this puts a kink in any simple capital flight.