What taxes would you prefer to see rise?

[5unny]

Yes I know this is a 'so would you prefer to be stabbed or shot' type of question. Ideally we want neither but given both the Tories and Labour have said taxes will have to rise in order to cut the deficit what is the fairest and least painful way of doing this?

The common sense answer would be to slash public spending on the bureaucrats, public services, local authorities, non-jobs, civil service etc etc but this will not happen or at least wont happen to the extent that tens of billions will be saved so tax rises are inevitable.

So which ones?

[Kermit power]

The obvious tax to raise would be a tax on unemployment. If you don't work for a living and contribute to the economy, then you will be taxed in the only way possible - on the money you scrounge.

To protect people who are actually deserving of assistance by virtue of having lost their job through no fault of their own, this tax would only apply to those who have been out of work for more than 6 months.

[Bing o]

Car duty and fuel duty obviously.

[thinfourth2]

Just raise income tax

i am sick of bloody stealth taxes

[miniman]

VAT seems like a good candidate. In that one cannot avoid paying it, regardless of how one's income is generated.

[jas xjr]

miniman said:

VAT seems like a good candidate. In that one cannot avoid paying it, regardless of how one's income is generated.

+1

[remedy]

thinfourth2 said:

Just raise income tax

i am sick of bloody stealth taxes

Exactly. The patronising way they treat the public is disgusting.

I'd like public spending slashed, waste identified and removed and tax on high earners removed to prevent them moving their assests and earnings abroad. And no, I'm not a high earner - by a long shot.
That way there would be minimal indirect tax rises needed that affects Mr&Mrs Public.

[Kermit power]

jas xjr said:

miniman said:

VAT seems like a good candidate. In that one cannot avoid paying it, regardless of how one's income is generated.

+1

I suppose the ideal would be to remove all taxation except VAT. That way, everyone pays their fair share.

[miniman]

Kermit power said:

jas xjr said:

miniman said:

VAT seems like a good candidate. In that one cannot avoid paying it, regardless of how one's income is generated.

+1

I suppose the ideal would be to remove all taxation except VAT. That way, everyone pays their fair share.

I believe that is how it works in a couple of US states and works very well indeed. Florida springs to mind; that would seem logical as they would want the vast numbers of tourists to pay their share.

[JakeS]

Forget increasing taxes. Sort the bloody benefit system out. I understand it's purpose, and it is a good one. Just far to abused.

[HOGEPH]

A tax on stupidity, they'd make a fortune.

[5unny]

Making some of the VAT exempt items non-exempt would also be an idea.

The national lottery (gambling in general), newspapers, magazines etc.

[Dave Angel]

JakeS said:

Forget increasing taxes. Sort the bloody benefit system out. I understand it's purpose, and it is a good one. Just far to abused.

I agree. I am ashamed to admit that I have 3 generations of family (cousin/husband and their offspring) who have never struck a blow between them in their lives. I have bubbled them to the social more than once as they work whilst claiming incapacity benefits, motability, you name it, they get it. It sickens me to see them get free rent, no council tax and they work the flea markets and do house clearances etc. 3 motors, a big Tranny for moving their st, a 4 y-o Discovery and a brand spanking Accord fom the motability. Still no action from the social though, getting away with murder. fking oxygen thieves, all of them.

End of rant.

[ErnestM]

miniman said:

Kermit power said:

jas xjr said:

miniman said:

VAT seems like a good candidate. In that one cannot avoid paying it, regardless of how one's income is generated.

+1

I suppose the ideal would be to remove all taxation except VAT. That way, everyone pays their fair share.

I believe that is how it works in a couple of US states and works very well indeed. Florida springs to mind; that would seem logical as they would want the vast numbers of tourists to pay their share.

Florida =

Federal Income Tax (varies but the upper level is 36%) goes to the Feds, not Florida
FICA and Medicare 7.65% (only paid on the first $180,000 - company matches)
NO FLORIDA INCOME TAX
Revenues in Florida derived from State retail sales taxes (about 7%) and Property taxes (varies based on value of property about 2%)
Permanent residents get a break on property taxes (Up to about $50,000 of value is reduced off the property value)
NO FEDERAL SALES TAX (only excise taxes on things like tyres, petrol, etc - done by stealth)

That's about it...

[Westy Pre-Lit]

JakeS said:

Forget increasing taxes. Sort the bloody benefit system out. I understand it's purpose, and it is a good one. Just far to abused.

Yep

The fact people can earn more on benifits and be better off than going to work and earning living, disgusts me.

I'm talking about the lazy arsed fkers who do nothing for society except take and leach, not those that are on incapacity etc who should to be rightfully helped.

[5unny]

Interesting to see where the spending actually goes:

[Dave Angel]

Westy Pre-Lit said:

Yep

The fact people can earn more on benifits and be better off than going to work and earning living, disgusts me.

I'm talking about the lazy arsed fkers who do nothing for society except take and leach, not those that are on incapacity etc who should to be rightfully helped.

See my post above.

[FourWheelDrift]

thinfourth2 said:

Just raise income tax

Are we declaring war on France again?

[chris watton]

Dave Angel said:

Westy Pre-Lit said:

Yep

The fact people can earn more on benifits and be better off than going to work and earning living, disgusts me.

I'm talking about the lazy arsed fkers who do nothing for society except take and leach, not those that are on incapacity etc who should to be rightfully helped.

See my post above.

What about a 50% 'tax' on certain benefits?

[Dave Angel]

chris watton said:

Dave Angel said:

Westy Pre-Lit said:

Yep

The fact people can earn more on benifits and be better off than going to work and earning living, disgusts me.

I'm talking about the lazy arsed fkers who do nothing for society except take and leach, not those that are on incapacity etc who should to be rightfully helped.

See my post above.

What about a 50% 'tax' on certain benefits?

No.

Burn the s. (In my example anyway)

I'd be glad to light the match, family or not.

Edited to add:

A bunch of total deadlegs, wasters, alkies and oxygen thieves, I wouldn't piss on any of them if they were on fire.

Edited by Dave Angel on Friday 2nd April 21:14