[Update and merge] 50p landline tax shelved

[Ignitionnet]

The VM network uses twisted pair to a local multiplexer, the BT network uses twisted pair to an exchange then to a multiplexer. Both are the same just where the multiplexer is is different. The BT fibre to cabinet upgrade won't change that architecture at all, the only change will be where the copper is entirely replaced with fibre.

Nonces really simply need to get their act together and get this pathetic tax away from us, or simply charge it on all non-IP based land lines as a tariff to fixed line rental and stop wasting tax payers' time procrastinating over minor definitions.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Why should we the customer have to pay money for the government to do there job, it might only be 50p, but when you think of what the MPs fiddle and the wages they are on. Also companies that want this new cable, that we are on now, should not enforce the price on us, it might only be 50p but then the government will think after about 12 months, oh we will put that 50p up to a 1.00. it is the principle of the thing.

Originally Posted by nodrogd

Consultation document does cover this point:

"3.7 There are some difficulties with this general approach due to how some retailers provide services to their customers. Virgin Media provide broadband services over a co-axial cable but standard voice services over a separate copper line where other providers would just use a single copper line for both voice and broadband services. BT will also face similar issues where fibre is overlaid on copper wires. Government’s intention is to ensure that there is no double liability under these circumstances."

OoooOOoooo ... kudos for actually reading the consultation

In that case, I would imagine their intention is to tax installed lines which would work without the need for any activation, were you to plug a phone into the socket, even if those lines aren't every actually used...

[yorkshireborn]

let me get this rite i think iv'e read this wrong but if you have moved from BT to virgin and have all services from virgin you pay your 50p tax once but your old bt line is still attatched to the house the way i read it you pay 50p tax on that line too even though its not used.
if thats true in off out to cut the line down.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

What ever happens, its a rip off, we pay enough taxes as it is.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by yorkshireborn

let me get this rite i think iv'e read this wrong but if you have moved from BT to virgin and have all services from virgin you pay your 50p tax once but your old bt line is still attatched to the house the way i read it you pay 50p tax on that line too even though its not used.
if thats true in off out to cut the line down.

Err no you leave that line alone, it's not yours to cut down and will cost you a lot of years of 50p a month to repair what is basically vandalism of BT's property.

To answer your question, no, if it's not in use you won't get charged for it. The charge goes to BT, not a person, and if you aren't using the circuit they aren't going to have a liability for it to pass on to you.

[Welshchris]

from what i remember reading the 50p tax is not actually 50p.

Its 50p + VAT

That's not surprising - if it's levied on the service provider, rather than on the sub directly, the service provider will have to add it to the sub's bill in order to recoup the cost. At which point it would automatically attract VAT, along with everything else on the bill.

IIRC the Tories aren't mad keen on this scheme however, and as they're likely to be the Government in less than six months, it may be that nobody ever has to pay this levy.

[Welshchris]

Chris i thought Labour was back in the lead in the polls.

Not in the slightest:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8280050.stm

[webcrawler2050]

Yet more tosh from our "free country"

[Welshchris]

i like to know how do they get this information for the polls

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by Chris

That's not surprising - if it's levied on the service provider, rather than on the sub directly, the service provider will have to add it to the sub's bill in order to recoup the cost. At which point it would automatically attract VAT, along with everything else on the bill.

IIRC the Tories aren't mad keen on this scheme however, and as they're likely to be the Government in less than six months, it may be that nobody ever has to pay this levy.

The Tories favour letting the market sort itself out, and hopefully to support this idea they will remove some of the barriers to investment in next generation networks.

VAT is levied, this is a duty in a similar manner to excise duty. The supplier pays the government then either eats up the charge or, more likely, passes it to the subscriber at which point of course that charge becomes liable for VAT.

[8skellerns]

Landline tax to be shelved:

http://money.uk.msn.com/budget2010/a...ntid=152937574

So who is going to pay for Rural broadband now then? If the government won't, and BT have announced they only intend to serve fast broadband to the cherry picked highly concentrated 40% of the population, then who else will, or is the rural population expected to receive a lower standard of services yet again? Rural areas are lucky to even have power, water and sewers!

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by 8skellerns

is the rural population expected to receive a lower standard of services yet again? Rural areas are lucky to even have power, water and sewers!

A fair few don't have mains sewage or gas yet have access to DSL, go figure.

No idea what Labour want to do now but this is a nice summary of the plans of other parties.

Have a look at this campaign, may give some ideas.