The Rise of Robots and the Future of Taxation

Mayne Wetherell is delighted to have sponsored yesterday’s public lecture by Professor of International Tax, Dr. Georg Kofler, on the impact of AI and related technologies on tax policy.

The event was hosted by the University of Auckland and the New Zealand Centre for Taxation, which was established last year within the Auckland Law School, The University of Auckland to focus on the interaction between tax law and business and society.

Tax systems commonly treat income from capital and income from labour differently, such that emerging technologies that substitute capital for labour challenge assumptions underlying current tax policy settings, as well as raising important questions as to the nature of work, income equality and wealth concentration.  Professor Kofler’s presentation discussed these issues against the important backdrop of challenges to international co-operation and difficulties in reaching multilateral solutions to global tax policy challenges.

Thanks to Professor Craig Elliffe for hosting on behalf of the Auckland Law School and New Zealand Centre for Taxation and to Professor Kofler for sharing your insights during your time in New Zealand.