Study Puts Paid to Scare Stories About Income Tax
A study by the UK Goverment’s own HMRC has found that thousands more taxpayers moved to Scotland than left each year in the period after Scottish Income Tax was brought in by the SNP Government.
The analysis of long-term trends in intra-UK migration and the impacts of 2018 to 2019 Scottish Income Tax changes was published by the UK Government today.
It reveals that, for every year from 2017-18 to 2021-22, average net migration to Scotland from within the UK was 4,200.
The data also shows that £200 million in additional taxable income was brought into Scotland in 2021-22, increasing economic activity while helping fund public services.
Critically, more Higher and Top rate taxpayers moved to Scotland than left. This is in stark contrast to the flight of higher earners predicted by opposition parties.
These findings expose the assertions of the Westminster parties for the nonsense that they were.
GRAEME
Not only have more taxpayers moved to Scotland than left since the Scottish Government’s changes, but this goes for higher earners too.
The fact that Scotland continues to attract people from elsewhere in the UK, while benefitting from increased investment in public services thanks to its more progressive taxation, shows that the SNP approach is the right one.
This Scottish Government has maintained very different priorities from the Tories at Westminster, prioritising public services and tackling poverty instead of cutting taxes for the wealthiest, and the evidence shows this is working for Scotland.
