The Empty Land Tax: A Market-Based Alternative to Burdensome Taxation
The Empty Land Tax: A Market-Based Alternative to Burdensome Taxation Jatin Mahaveer Singh • May 18, 2025 at 21:43 Introduction: What this all is about In a world dominated by complex and burdensome tax systems that distort market incentives and restrict individual freedom, the Empty Land Tax (ELT) emerges as a refreshingly simple alternative. A refined version of the Land Value Tax concept, the ELT targets only non-functional and unused land at a modest rate of 1% per annum, while offering generous exemptions for personal use. The current taxation system places excessive burdens on productive activities—we tax income (discouraging work), sales (discouraging consumption), and business (discouraging entrepreneurship). The ELT shifts the focus to an unproductive resource—unused land—creating powerful incentives for efficient use without punishing productivity. The Problem of Excessive Taxation in Today's India India's current taxation system represents a serious impediment to eco...