Humza Yousaf plans to raise municipal tax on the most expensive homes

Humza Yusuf vowed to continue Nicola Sturgeon's «progressive» tax policies. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA

Wealthy Scots face new municipal tax raid after it came in. Humza Yusuf plans to raise bills by nearly 25 per cent.

In line with proposals called «brutal» by Scottish Tories ”, SNP ministers and council heads are considering a sharp increase for those living in more expensive properties.

Plans to change the «multiplier» for council tax bills suggest that those in the top four of the eight bands will see bills rise by 7.5 to 22.5%.

Higher paid Scots are already paying far more income tax than if they lived elsewhere in the UK: those earning £50,000 pay £1,552 more and those earning £100,000 rise to £2 £606.

Mr. Yousaf has vowed to continue Nicola Sturgeon's «progressive» tax policies and is also considering a further increase in income tax.

The SNP's tax policy has been blamed for sluggish growth north of the border, amid warnings that Scotland is proving less attractive to the high-paid.

«Cruel proposals»

«These brutal proposals will strike terror into the hearts of the Scots, especially as the cost of living is in a global crisis,» said Myles Briggs, a Scottish Conservative MP.

«It's outrageous and wrong that they should be asked to fill the huge black hole in the municipality's finances, created year after year of chronic underfunding of local authorities by the SNP government.»

According to plans, according to a leaked document obtained by The Daily Record, about one in four Scottish households, roughly 700,000 properties, will be hit by price increases.

For Group E residents, bills will rise by 7.5 per person. cents, rising to 12.5% ​​for the F range, 17.5% for the G range and 22.5% for the H range, the most expensive homes.

Average bills will rise by £127-741, to of how annual general increases are typically collected by councils.

The document adds: «Changing the multipliers is a quick way to shift the burden of council tax to those who can afford to pay their fair share.

>< p>“This will lead to additional income for the councils, as it was in 2017 [when a similar policy was introduced]. An estimate based on a similar change this time could show that councils could raise an additional £177m.”

Residents of less expensive homes, in the bottom four ranges at 1991 prices, will not see their change multiplier. A working group set up by the SNP is proposing consultations on the plans.

Mr Yusuf's Liz Truss Moment

Mark Griffin, Labor MP, said the policy, if implemented, would be for Mr. Yusaf «the Liz Truss moment».

He added: «The party that promised to abolish the council tax over 15 years ago was once more forcing councils to raise council tax rates to fill the financial black hole created by the SNP.

«In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis the SNP's economic illiteracy is forcing thousands of Scots to pay more. while the government is obsessed with independence.»

A spokesman for the Scottish government said the devolved administration was «committed to fairer, inclusive and fiscally sustainable forms of local taxation.»

He added: «We worked in partnership with [council body] COSLA through the Joint Working Group on Local Government Funding Sources and Municipal Tax Reform to explore proposals for significant changes to be made to the council tax.

“The group is considering a broad a range of potential measures that together will be aimed at ensuring equity in the system.”