完整標題：Argentina passes tax on wealthy to pay for virus measures
發稿單位：BBC
發稿時間：Published18 hours ago
撰 稿 者：BBC
原文連結：https://bbc.in/3lMabWT
Argentina has passed a new tax on its wealthiest people to pay for medical sup
plies and relief measures amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Senators passed the one-off levy - dubbed the "millionaire's tax" - by 42 vote
s to 26 on Friday.
Those with assets worth more than 200 million pesos ($2.5m; ꌱ.8m) - some 12,0
00 people - will have to pay.
Argentina has recorded close to 1.5 million infections and almost 40,000 death
s from the coronavirus.
It has been hit hard by the pandemic, becoming the fifth country worldwide to
report one million confirmed cases in October despite only having a population
of about 45 million people - making it the smallest nation at the time to sur
pass that figure.
Lockdown measures have further dented an economy struggling with unemployment,
high poverty levels and massive government debt. Argentina has been in recess
ion since 2018.
One of the law's authors said it would only affect about 0.8% of taxpayers. Th
ose affected will pay a progressive rate of up to 3.5% on wealth in Argentina
and up to 5.25% on that outside the country.
AFP news agency reports that of the money raised, 20% will go to medical suppl
ies, 20% to relief for small and medium-sized businesses, 20% to scholarships
for students, 15% to social developments, and the remaining 25% to natural gas
ventures.
Centre-left President Alberto Fernandez's government hopes to raise 300 billio
n pesos.
But opposition groups fear it will discourage foreign investors, and that it w
ill not be a one-time tax.
Centre-right party Juntos por el Cambio reportedly described it as "confiscato
ry".