Should Military Pensions be tax exempt?

[mel]

They've been earned over years of service but are still taxed and taken into account when "means testing" recipients for benefits, is this right?

If you agree then sign this

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk:80/Military-Pensi...

If you don't then feel free not to and by all means vent your thoughts here.

[Puggit]

Should all pensions be tax exempt?

[Spiritual_Beggar]

Puggit said:

Should all pensions be tax exempt?

+ The Whole Country!!

Why should our own savings be taxed? Its like paying tax twice, since we paid tax the first time round when WE EARNED the money.

Same goes for inheritance tax. Why should the Governemnt get some of my inheritence money? That money has already been taxed, so its essentially taxing us twice!!!!

Its a joke!

[piquet]

sorry

i don't see how it's different from a nurses pension or a firemans pension

[Eric Mc]

Name ANY sort of income that doesn't suffer multiple taxaxtion. That argument on its own isn't enough.

Pensions are taxed for everybody. I don't see why military pensions should be treated differently.

[mel]

I'm not actually sure either way, one hand is saying that ex serviceman often have trouble adjusting to the civilian world and there are numerous well documented cases of the homeless and destitute who have ended up that way because they have given the best years of their lives to the service of the crown and are paying the price for it. The other hand says if they were tax exempt it would be the thin end of the wedge and where do you stop, all civil service pensions? all public sector pensions? What about the very very nice index linked and generous pensions payed to retired staff officers? Or the pathetically small pension payed to Private Smith after his 5 years service that left him traumatised and disfunctional?

I did actually sign it though, simply because it's relevant to me and lets face it nobody LIKES paying tax

Edited by mel on Tuesday 31st March 15:36

[Nolar Dog]

mel said:

They've been earned over years of service but are still taxed and taken into account when "means testing" recipients for benefits, is this right?

Yes it is.

Why shouldn't it be taken into account?

[Asterix]

Not sure about pensions - if you do Military then you should do everyones that is basic and paid by the state.

I'm ex Army and I was always very pissed off that we still paid tax on our earnings while posted abroad and on operation duties.

I still believe that as any other UK citizen living outside of the UK for 6 months or more (or whatever the rules are to be non-resident) shouldn't have to pay UK Income tax and NI.

[Orb the Impaler]

Puggit said:

Should all pensions be tax exempt?

Yep!

[Adam B]

My pension contributions are not taxed (up to a pretty high limit), so don't see how this is adouble taxation - although the dividends on equity investments are (a stupid new labia policy)

so yes they should be taxed like anyone else's pension subject to usual alllowances

[Spiritual_Beggar]

Eric Mc said:

Name ANY sort of income that doesn't suffer multiple taxaxtion. That argument on its own isn't enough.

Pensions are taxed for everybody. I don't see why military pensions should be treated differently.

Pensions, period, should not be taxed!

And yes it is enough of an arguement, because we shouldn't be double taxed, for anything, let alone our own hard earned money!!!

Tax is not a right IMO, tax goes towards maintaining the country! If you need more revenue for something, increase the already existing tax and explain the reasons for teh increase....dont stick another tax on another element of income and call it something different! Big problem with this atm if that our taxes arent going back into the country. It's disappearing. And we are paying more and more tax, only to get less and less back from the Government in the way of maintenance and services.

Look at our roads. We pay soo much road tax, and soo much fuel tax, and sooo many other taxes to do with owning vehicles and using the roads.....yet our roads are by far the worst in Europe....even countries in Africa have better roads than we do!!!!! So what is all the road/vehicluar tax being used for?

Its dishonest, and makes people question what their taxes are for!

[Geoff82]

I've signed it as I have a vested interest myself, but personally believe rather than applying to just military pensions, it should also apply to the police, fire service, nurses etc as they provide a service to the country of equal or greater benefit.

[beanbag]

mel said:

They've been earned over years of service but are still taxed and taken into account when "means testing" recipients for benefits, is this right?

If you agree then sign this

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk:80/Military-Pensi...

If you don't then feel free not to and by all means vent your thoughts here.

I honestly don't see how these petitions are of any good.

Is there one single case where it's actually made a difference other than to make the government look like they're listening to the general population when they're not.

[angryS3owner]

Sorry, here I think it should be one rule for all, I'd happily see the tax removed for everyone though.

[Craig@CMR]

yes, military personell should be tax exempt

[Fittster]

Geoff82 said:

I've signed it as I have a vested interest myself, but personally believe rather than applying to just military pensions, it should also apply to the police, fire service, nurses etc as they provide a service to the country of equal or greater benefit.

Teachers, dustman, etc? Where does it stop?

Or is this just public sector good, private sector bad?

[loltolhurst]

Geoff82 said:

I've signed it as I have a vested interest myself, but personally believe rather than applying to just military pensions, it should also apply to the police, fire service, nurses etc as they provide a service to the country of equal or greater benefit.

eeerr they get paid for it?? why should their pensions be any different? if military are injured they should be taken care of but if theyre just doing the job they are paid for why should it be different to an accountant etc

editted to say public sector get better pensions on the whole as it is eg teachers

Edited by loltolhurst on Tuesday 31st March 16:09

[Ed.]

Fittster said:

Geoff82 said:

I've signed it as I have a vested interest myself, but personally believe rather than applying to just military pensions, it should also apply to the police, fire service, nurses etc as they provide a service to the country of equal or greater benefit.

Teachers, dustman, etc? Where does it stop?

Or is this just public sector good, private sector bad?

Ever expanding civil service?

[Nolar Dog]

Craig@CMR said:

yes, military personell should be tax exempt

Could you explain why to me please?

[Geoff82]

Fittster said:

Teachers, dustman, etc? Where does it stop?

Exactly - where does it stop? Like I said I only signed it because I have a vested interest. I don't view it as having any chance of being introduced.

Fittster said:

Or is this just public sector good, private sector bad?

Not at all - you can't have one without the other (Unless taking capitalism or communism to its extreme conclusion).