Time For Tax Fairness for Business Says JBA

The Joondalup Business Association says that the impending State election is a great opportunity for the business community to put the policies of the candidates under the spotlight.

 

JBA President Russell Crook said that there are many State issues which directly affect small business including Stamp Duty, Land Tax, Payroll Tax, Industrial Relations laws and Buy Local policies.

 

“WA is not alone on the issue of taxation of small businesses where the burden of taxes such as Stamp Duty and Payroll Tax were highlighted as being a disincentive to enterprise and we encourage the major parties to include reforms in their fiscal policies,” Mr Crook said.

 

“Early in 2008 the JBA echoed the call of the NSW Business Chamber to abolish Payroll Tax and review GST arrangements which we hoped would incite change but little has happened over the last 8 months.

 

“It is of great concern to JBA members and non-members alike that small business will continue to take the brunt of the tax burden imposed on the community,” Mr Crook said.

 

“Over the years the JBA has constantly called on WA State Governments to look at the tax regime imposed on small to medium businesses with a view to reductions that would encourage growth, create employment opportunities and boost the economy in general,” he said.

 

“In this time of prosperity, with record budget surpluses continually being recorded, it is a golden opportunity to make these adjustments and bring some fairness to the equation, “Mr Crook said.

 

“It appears that the promises of less and smaller state taxes after the implementation of the GST are long forgotten and may be time for a WA Government to follow the lead of its NSW counterpart in seeking to

reform the GST Agreement, abolish Payroll Tax and ease the stamp duty tax burden of small business,” he said.