GeCoBi also submitted a statement as part of the consultation process on tax relief for families with children, which ended on April 15, 2009. The design of the tax burden on parents and families is a crucial lever in family policy. Tax incentives not only affect the finances of those affected but also reflect societal appreciation of certain behaviors. Therefore, GeCoBi demands the implementation of joint parenthood for unmarried parents in tax law as well.
GeCoBi believes that both parents have a natural priority in the care and upbringing of their children. We therefore reject government incentives that unilaterally promote external childcare. Instead, the government should do much more to offer parents a choice between providing care themselves and using external childcare. With regard to the revision of tax law, we therefore propose the introduction of a sustainably noticeable tax credit for children, combined with the tax deductibility of the child's subsistence allowance. This would also benefit parents with middle, low, or no incomes. Unmarried parents with joint custody should be able to benefit from tax breaks for children in proportion to their share of childcare.
The full response to the consultation can be found here.
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