Comment by aianus
1 day ago
Why not tax primary residences too? Why should housing hoarders pay no tax when someone who invests in a productive business or hoards mostly useless shiny metals has to pay capital gains tax?
1 day ago
Why not tax primary residences too? Why should housing hoarders pay no tax when someone who invests in a productive business or hoards mostly useless shiny metals has to pay capital gains tax?
They probably could be taxed but not a lot of countries do this and those that do have exemptions.
There's many arguments against taxation of primary residents but the strongest is probably that it punishes and hinders the ability for people to make sideways movements from similar properties to other similar properties, so it hinders housing liquidity, labour movement etc.
I would be fine with house sales incurring capital gains/losses. You are right, it is just another asset.