Social-security compromise

22.01.2010 - EB

Companies spend small fortunes to optimize their tax liabilities, so when a tax windfall drops into their lap, their natural inclination is to hold onto it. Convincing Czech companies to voluntarily give up their social-tax refunds for the first half of 2007 (brought about by a screw-up in Parliament) will have to be based on more than just good-citizenship arguments. A workable solution might be to tie the refunds to something manufacturing companies have been clamoring for - subsidized reduced work weeks, known as "Kurzarbeit." A formula could be found that takes into account court fees, late-filing penalties, risks to insured employees, and the cost to the state if no compromise is found. Companies that waive their right to a refund could be offered a credit on payroll taxes for maintaining a certain level of employment. It's messy, but much less so than most of the options mentioned so far.

Glossary of difficult words

windfall - a large payment or earning, esp. one regarded to be excessive or unfairly obtained;

inclination - natural tendency; 

social-tax refunds - if the refunds are upheld in the court, they could reach an estimated cost to the state of Kč 100bn; 

screw-up - a situation that has been completely mismanaged or mishandled; 

good citizenship - behaving as a responsible citizen should, regardless of personal interest; 

to clamor for - to make a vehement protest or demand;

to waive - to refrain from exercising a right; 

payroll taxes - taxes withheld from an employee's paycheck; 

messy - complex, convoluted.



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