SCOTLAND's new government must replace the council tax and introduce a levy on private jets or "risk failing on poverty, public services and climate action", campaigners have told the First Minister.
Tax Justice Scotland – a coalition of more than 50 organisations, academics and think tanks – has said there is a "widening gap" between political promises and how they will be paid for as independent experts point to Scotland's public finances coming under increasing strain.
In an open letter to the First Minister, activists are calling for John Swinney to take urgent and decisive action using devolved powers, starting with long-overdue reform of council tax and accelerating plans to tax wealth and polluters.
The campaign has also written to the leaders of the other parties in the Scottish Parliament, urging them to support fair tax reforms.
Campaigners have called on the new First Minister to launch an immediate revaluation of properties and a "clear, time-bound" process to replace the “outdated and unfair” system with a fairer alternative.
The organisation says that income tax takings remain key to investing in a fairer future and that the scale of financial pressures may necessitate broad-based rate increases, but they argue that increased focus on taxing wealth is long overdue.
Jamie Livingstone, head of Oxfam Scotland and member of Tax Justice Scotland, said: “Scotland needs a post-election reality check: if we want a fairer and greener country, we need to invest in it. You can’t promise a better Scotland and avoid paying for it.
“We’ve seen some small but fair changes to income tax, but we urgently need to start taxing wealth properly to help fund the fairer future people were promised. In Scotland, that starts with replacing council tax and fast-tracking a tough tax on the wealthy private jet passengers polluting our skies.
"Standing still isn’t neutral: it means pressures on public services will mount, and unfairness remains baked into the system. But a different choice is possible, particularly if we choose to tax wealth more fairly.
"It’s time for politicians to get on and deliver it.”
It comes after research showed strong public backing for taxing wealth more fairly, with 85% of people saying earlier this year that taxes on the wealthy should increase rather than decrease, according to a report by Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland.
While various political parties supported reforming or replacing council tax before the election, Campaigners say the focus must now shift from "vague manifesto promises" to meaningful change.
They warn that a failure to reform the taxation of property wealth during this parliament would be “unforgivable”.
The letter also urges the First Minister to act faster to ensure the ultra-wealthy and biggest polluters pay their fair share through bringing forward Scotland’s planned Private Jet Tax by a year to 2027 and setting it at a punishingly high rate.
Lisa Hough-Stewart, director of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland, said: “People in Scotland are clear they want action on inequality and support fairer taxation of wealth. Fair taxes are essential if we are to build a wellbeing economy, one where resources are shared more fairly, communities are properly supported, and the transition to a low-carbon economy is both fast and fair.
“The new Scottish Parliament has a choice: keep mindlessly rearranging the furniture or start rebuilding the house on fairer financial foundations.”
