Scots want rich households to pay more council tax as part of a wholesale reform of the local rates system.
A major consultation by the SNP Government found that eight out of 10 respondents are in favour of overhauling the current set-up, which is still largely based on property values from 1991.
The most popular option for change was a revalued 14-band system that would ask owners of higher-value homes to contribute more.
Successive Nationalist administrations have ducked the issue despite being first elected to Holyrood in 2007 on a manifesto that included a pledge to scrap the council tax.
SNP ministers have previously blamed a lack of “consensus” at Holyrood on the issue for the failure to reform the system.
But an analysis of the government’s own consultation by Tax Justice Scotland – a campaign backed by more than 50 organisations including charities and trade unions – found overwhelming support for change and little appetite for retaining the status quo.
Katherine May, head of Oxfam Scotland, said: “Scotland has built a Parliament, lived through seven First Ministers, and watched a generation grow up since homes were last properly valued.
“For years we’ve been told council tax reform can’t happen without consensus. This consultation suggests Scotland has already made up its mind.
“Scots understand a simple principle – when property wealth has grown so dramatically over the last 35 years, those with the most valuable homes should contribute more.
“Council tax is one of the few ways Scotland taxes wealth, yet it’s still based on property values from 1991. It’s long past time for this tax to reflect modern reality. The challenge now isn’t building support for reform. It’s finding the political courage to deliver it.”
John Swinney announced in his recent Programme for Government that new legislation on local taxation is on the horizon – but campaigners fear it will simply “patch up” the current system.
Laurie Macfarlane, co-director of Future Economy Scotland think-tank, said: “Unfortunately, the Scottish Government’s consultation didn’t offer the kind of property tax reform we want to see. Even so, people gravitated towards the option that would make owners of higher-value homes contribute more.
“That should tell ministers something important – Scotland is ready for a fairer way of taxing property wealth. Politicians shouldn’t mistake caution in the consultation design for caution among the public.”
Roz Foyer, general secretary of the STUC, said: “Workers are rightly worried about the future of local services given the scything cuts proposed from Scottish Government ministers. We cannot build world-class public services on the meagre, shoestring budget that condemns our local authorities to further managed decline.
“A fairer, more proportionate Council Tax system ensures Scotland raises the revenue needed to support the public services we all rely on, while protecting households on low incomes from being pushed further into hardship. It is sheer folly for the Scottish Government to continue burying its head in the sand over replacing the council tax.
“The public has demanded change. It’s high time ministers get on with delivering it.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Ministers have been clear that council tax reform is needed and the Scottish Government will work to build a cross-party agreement on the future of council tax in Scotland.
“While no decisions have been taken, this work will help to form an evidence base for further work to build agreement on any future reform.
“The Scottish Government has delivered a range of improvements to make council tax fairer and more affordable, including supporting those on the lowest incomes through the Council Tax Reduction scheme, with around 460,000 households saving £900 per year on average. Ministers have also enabled councils to increase charges for second properties.
“The introduction of a Mansion Tax will raise millions in additional funding each year for local public services by requiring those who have the most to contribute more.”
