Tax Cuts Pending

According to sources close to Fréttablaðið, the tax-free yearly income ceiling could be raised up to nearly 95,000 ISK. In addition, child welfare payments - paid regularly by the state to nearly every parent in country for each child under 16 - could be extended until children are 18. Meanwhile, labour unions are fighting to reduce personal income tax from 38% to 15% for those with a yearly income of 150,000 or less. Tax cuts have already been made in the corporate sector - from 50% to 18% - and in capital gains tax, which is currently at 10%. Former Prime Minister Halldór Ásgrímsson told an economics conference last month that he would prefer to cut taxes than raise minimum wages, in response to increasing inflation. Current PM Geir H. Haarde is not expected to deviate from this policy. - pfn