Re: Council Tax doubled since Labour came to power
 

Well, Out of 1st world countrys then we would not be the most taxed. Not every country has a walfare state, and all the other costs of the UK. Out of countrys simliar to us then we would not the the most Taxed

Re: Council Tax doubled since Labour came to power
 

Seems we get of quite lightly

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/ta...nal-income-tax

Re: Council Tax doubled since Labour came to power
 

If you hover over the definition link, you'll see those figures are for 2001... ;)

Re: Council Tax doubled since Labour came to power
 

So, because he has mansion, he has to pay a huge council tax bill?

The council tax bill is for council services provided, and house size is a stupid way of allocating the amount you pay.

But the rich people pay up

http://www.nationmaster.com/red/grap...-by-richest-30


a lot ;)

Re: Council Tax doubled since Labour came to power
 

I'm waiting for the give with one hand....

I was at a seminar at the Revenue and Customs a few weeks back...the person there said that the 'reduction' is virtually worthless as they scrapped the 10% band at the same time and altered the thresholds accordingly - so most people will end up paying about the same. Apart, of course, from the people who really benefited from the 10% band, which is the very low paid and part-time workers.

That's absolutely correct, and it was the non-Labour councils that had more funding withdrawn than Labour ones too. Sadly they didn't count on the British public being intelligent enough to figure that out!

Somewhat off-topic, but I would personally define a 'legal' war as one that is ratified by a UN sanction (such as the first Gulf war) or where you are defending your territory (or being asked to defend it) from foreign invasion (such as Falklands or the Iriaqis defending themselves in Gulf War 2).

It's not an easy comparison to make in France as they have an very different tax system to us, but it's true that they take about 20% for SSC's (National Insurance) and that income tax rates are higher in some instances but much lower in other...for example the lowest earners are paying only 5% income tax...but they work it out in a way that the maximum anyone will pay (inc SSC) is approx 50%, which is similar to ours, when you include NI.

When it comes to Council Tax eqivalents, the French pay two lots! They pay a services charge and an habitation charge each year...like ours this will vary according to where it is, but generally it's less (quelle surprise) than we'd be paying here.

The other issues that you need to take into account are that the cost of living are generally lower than in the UK and that the cost of property are much lower too, so people are paying less on mortgates etc.

I'm sure there's plenty of stats that will prove either or both sides of the story, but my personal feeling is that the French are about on a par with the Brits, if not slightly better off overall (which is why they have a higher percentage of salary in investments and savings than us) but of course they have first class public services, which we don't.

Re: Council Tax doubled since Labour came to power
 

No we don't. As someone else rightly pointed out that this data is several years out of date. But regardless, that data is just TAX based on Income Tax - what about the dozen other TAXES that apply? I'll say it again - IMO, without any doubt, we *are* *one* of the highest paying nations when it comes to TAX.

Re: Council Tax doubled since Labour came to power
 

Check again those are this years figures and if you notice we pay .2% more now all those years ago, we might have more stealth taxes now but other countries VAT rates are a lot higher than ours

Re: Council Tax doubled since Labour came to power
 

We spend a lot less on health per person however.

Income tax and sales tax is higher in many other countrys as well.

Re: Council Tax doubled since Labour came to power
 

Have I disputed that? No.

Look at my posts again please! I have been saying that we are *one* of the highest paying nations when it comes to TAX.

Nope I think you need to check again - It says those figures are for 2002, not last years data, but besides and I shall say this again, this data is for income TAX only. There is dozens of other TAXES.

The strength of the Pound compared to other currencies probably offsets the percentage rates of those higher VAT rates in other countries. So we probably still end up paying that little bit more.

Re: Council Tax doubled since Labour came to power
 

But with a higher income tax, and a higher sales tax (which are two of the biggest taxes). What taxs do we have that make up for those? What are you basing it on?

Re: Council Tax doubled since Labour came to power
 

Nope, history explains it all really

Re: Council Tax doubled since Labour came to power
 

Ah ok.

Only, I don't owe you anything and I'm no thief :D

Re: Council Tax doubled since Labour came to power
 

tax tax isn't that v.a.t

Re: Council Tax doubled since Labour came to power
 

Like I said before, the French tax system is more complex than ours, and it's actually based on household income to some extent, not personal income. there are also lots and lots of thresholds at approx €5,000 to €10,000 bands where you will pay different levels of income tax, exverything from 5% right up to 50% so it's not a like for like comparison.

Also, like I also said before, the cost of living is lower, so even though a similar overall or greater level of taxation is being paid, it is being paid on a lower overall starting point, which means that less people are in a high tax bracket.

Looking at other taxes in France:

Alcohol duty is lower on locally produced products.

Fuel duty is lower in France (particularly on diesel which is more than double the European average, and which transports all of our goods to supermarkets of course).

The French have a state-subsidised energy market (although by the sounds of things not for much longer).

Council tax equivalents is generally cheaper than in the UK.

Capital Gains Tax is far lower in France.

Inheritance tax is somewhat different in France, so I couldn't say whether it's better or worse, but by the looks of it if your leave something to an heir, there's no tax to pay.

Re: Council Tax doubled since Labour came to power
 

France, i think, force you to give to the nearest relative. I.E Child inherits from parents.