DFM urges support for approach to taxation in Scotland

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth will urge Parliament to back the Scottish Government's approach to taxation to support public services and the widest cost of living support in the UK.

In a wealth taxation debate today (Thursday), Ms Gilruth will confirm work is underway to introduce a private jet tax from 2028 and two new council tax bands for homes worth more than £1 million.

DFM will also reaffirm Ministers' commitment to ensuring most Scottish taxpayers can continue to expect to pay less income tax than elsewhere in the UK and say more could be achieved with the full powers of independence.

Ms Gilruth said:

“People across Scotland are feeling the strain of the cost-of-living crisis and our approach to tax must continue to be based on fairness – asking those with the broadest shoulders to contribute more while protecting the majority of people.

“Taxation helps us to target investment to maximise economic growth, deliver public services and support cost-of-living measures not available elsewhere in the UK, including free tuition, free prescriptions and our plans for a £2 bus fare cap across Scotland.

“That is why work is underway to introduce a private jet tax and a mansion tax.  That is what we promised and that is what we are delivering.

“While we will seek further powers from the UK Government to address private jet ‘ghost flights' – jets with no, or very few, passengers which are exempt from Air Departure Tax and beyond powers of devolution -  independence would give us the ability to redesign wealth taxation to work more effectively for people and businesses of Scotland.”