Financing Our Future
Our health, education, and social care systems are the backbone of a fair society. However, these vital services are under increasing pressure due to underfunding.
Scotland has made some progress towards making Income Tax fairer. However, these changes have only tweaked our tax system which still relies too heavily on taxing those in work.
As Scotland faces growing needs and an ageing population, we need a tax system that can sustain and strengthen our public services.
To future-proof our economy and public services, we must broaden the tax base to ensure stable and growing revenues. This includes finding new ways to tax wealth, property, land, and businesses, so we can properly fund our public services, even in uncertain economic times.
Building A Fair and Resilient Tax System for Scotland
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Long-term stability
Relying primarily on Income Tax from working people is likely to be unsustainable as our population ages.
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More Resilient
A broader tax base that raises more revenue will protect our essential services from budget cuts and underfunding, ensuring that health, education, and social care are able to thrive.
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Community Well-Being
Enabling strong public services which contribute to a healthier, more educated society, driving economic growth and social progress.
A Path to a Fairer Future
We need fairer – and sometimes higher – taxes, particularly for those most able to afford it. This will ensure stable funding for the public services that protect, nurture, and empower everyone in Scotland.
At Tax Justice Scotland, we’re calling for our tax system to be strengthened through:
Fairer Taxes on Wealth and Income: Ensuring that those who can afford it pay their fair share, which helps sustain public services that benefit everyone.
Encourage Businesses to Act Positively for People and Planet: New and reformed local taxes should encourage good practices that benefit our communities and the environment. This includes things like businesses and organisations paying the Real Living Wage or offering flexible work options for people with caring responsibilities and people with disabilities. Tax breaks should be tied to actions that support Scotland’s social and environmental goals.
These proposed changes aren’t just tweaks to the system; they’re a clear plan to help secure a fairer future for everyone.