[lostlogin]

Part of this may be due to differences in what taxes do? I pay 33% income tax. Some of this might go to things that local government pays in your region? For example, in NZ income tax pays for schools, not property tax. Same applies to hospitals and various other services.

As you say, that’s a massive difference.

[seanmcdirmid]

My state lacks an income tax, so we pay high sales and property tax. But overall my tax burden should be lower than NZ, but those property taxes are ridiculously low, no wonder NZ is (or was?) a good place for foreigners to speculate on property.

[lostlogin]

We welcome you in!

And if it’s getting tricky, you can usually find a politician who is sympathetic and will bend the rules for you.

Thiel managed 12 days here before citizenship came though, but if you aren’t as rich as him I’m sure we could come to an arrangement.

If working here, you’ll be alarmed by the low wages, high housing costs (for low quality housing) and high cost of living. However bad you think it is, it’s worse.

But other stuff is great!

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/indepth/national/how-peter-thiel-...

[seanmcdirmid]

I have enough acquaintances from NZ in tech to know the drill, but just that low or no property taxes, in relation to other taxes, encourages property speculation (eg in china, which lacks them).

[lostlogin]

You are correct. It’s crashing down now though.

[jemmyw]

33% income tax on the top band, not in total. Even though I fall into the 39% band I'm still not paying as much as 33% all up.

[lostlogin]

Thank you, yes.