Council Tax doubled since Labour came to power

Yes we are! I suggest you read my post again before posting a unwarranted, rude post like that - If you bother to look - I said we are *one* of the most taxed, I didn't state we are the most taxed - that's the bloody difference.

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

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Mick

- I said we are *one* of the most taxed, I didn't state we are the most taxed - that's the bloody difference.

Seems we get of quite lightly

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

[Cobbydaler]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Seems we get of quite lightly

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/ta...-single-worker

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

[iglu]

Originally Posted by CrC-3rr0r

Poll Tax ? Fair System especially for a fat a$$ sitting alone in his mansion

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

[andygrif]

Originally Posted by Cobbydaler

It's smoke & mirrors with all politicians...

Give with one hand & take away with the other.

Reduction in the basic rate of tax? Worthless...

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.

Originally Posted by Osem

Gordon Brown effectively forced local authorities to raise council tax rates so they get the hassle and the blame.

That's absolutely correct, and it was the non-Labour councils that had more funding withdrawn than Labour ones too.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!

Originally Posted by Damien

I like the idea there are legal wars If Iraq wasnt such a mess it would not be considered illegal.

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).

Originally Posted by Damien

Anyway, Depending on how you sum up all the taxs we are taxed less than European countrys. I.E France. But then they spend more on public services

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.

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Seems we get of quite lightly

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

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.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Mick

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.

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

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.

We spend a lot less on health per person however.

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.

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

Originally Posted by Damien

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

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.

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

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

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.

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

we might have more stealth taxes now but other countries VAT rates are a lot higher than ours

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.

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.

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?

[sollp]

Originally Posted by Russ B

Riiight....care to explain?

Nope, history explains it all really

[Russ]

Ah ok.

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

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Russ B

I'm sure it won't be long before Tax tax is introduced.

Anyway, scrap Council Tax, the most despicable tax ever. Scrap it and replace it with a system linked to your ability to pay.

tax tax isn't that v.a.t

[andygrif]

Originally Posted by Damien

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?

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.

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