This should relieve small and medium incomes and strengthen climate protection. “We want a climate bonus instead of an SUV bonus,” said SP vice club boss Jrg Leichtfried. Industrial workers in particular and the “heroines and heroes of the crisis” could not work from home. They would therefore be hit particularly hard by the high fuel prices.
Higher income, higher flat rate
“The current commuter flat rate clearly prefers people with higher incomes. Regardless of whether someone drives with a ‘fuel eater’ or the train – the tax savings are greater, the higher the income. This is because the commuter flat rate in Austria is designed as a tax allowance – depending The higher the income, the higher the lump sum that the commuter gets back from the state “, criticized Leichtfried. In addition, the flat rate does not take into account whether someone drives by car or – reasonably accessible – public transport.
As an example, he cites two commuters from Mdling (N) to Vienna: an employee with monthly earnings of 8,000 euros and an employee with 1,800 euros gross. He drives by car and receives an annual tax credit of 408 euros through the commuter allowance; she drives by train and only receives a credit of 234 euros. Leichtfried refers to a study by the VC, according to which the upper income quarter receives 13 times as much from the commuter allowance as the lower income quarter.
Deduction amount depending on the kilometer
Its counter-model is the “Commuter Flat Rate Plus”. The current model would have to be converted from a tax-free allowance into a tax credit that is kilometer-dependent. “For the first 20 kilometers there is a fixed base amount of 200 euros. From 20 km there is a deduction that is deducted directly from the tax liability and thus goes 1: 1 into your wallet. In addition, everyone who actually uses the Drive ffis, get the new, large commuter flat rate “, says Leichtfried. Explanation: The large flat rate is to be borne if the use of a means of mass transport is unreasonable. Over a million people are currently entitled to the commuter allowance.
Source From: Nachrichten
