Good things to tax

[Frimley111R]

I know we all moan about paying tax but it occurred to me that there are some things that I wouldn't mind being taxed:

Domestic vehicles based on size: We are a crowded nation, partly because so many people have stupidly big cars.

Domestic vehicles based on weight: The heavier the car the more damage to the roads and the more money that needs to be spent on them to repair them (wait to see what EVs are going to do!)

Non-recyclable packaging: I hate seeing stuff that goes in my bin and not my recycling one, no need for it

What else...?

[Eric Mc]

Internet trolls.

[PurpleMoonlight]

Here's a novel idea.

How about rewarding people who do what you would like, rather than punishing those that don't.

[BoRED S2upid]

Vehicles are taxed higher based on size and therefore weight aren’t they? Compare a fiat 500 to a Range Rover a lot more tax and fuel which is also tax.

[thebraketester]

Recreational drugs

[Helicopter123]

Carbon

[sideways sid]

Energy, at source, globally.

Job done!

[RizzoTheRat]

thebraketester said:

Recreational drugs

The Canadians reckon legalised marijuana should pull in around $400M/year, so it seems like a good earner, providing increased use doesn't lead to other issues.

[768]

Publicly-voiced political opinions.

Additions to the tax system.

NHS restructuring.

Doorbell ringing.

Time required for someone to fill in a form for your organisation.

[RicksAlfas]

Tweets and Facebook posts.

[bristolracer]

Amazon Google or any other "disruptor" business that thinks its fine to operate in a country with no respect for the domestic tax regime.
I saw the front page of a tabloid the other day claiming some footballer was paying more tax than Amazon!

It is wrong that the small cafe/shop pays full tax yet these "disruptors" avoid it.

As a previous poster has mentioned,packaging. Stick a £5 tax on each and every product that comes in a non recyclable pack. I guarantee you that within a week all non recyclable packaging will be gone.

Stick a further 30p on all alcoholic drinks, be they sold in pubs or shops,right across the board no concessions, people will moan for about a week and then just get on with it.

[CzechItOut]

Meat
Lottery winnings

[Gary29]

1p per every 10 Facebook posts

[Clockwork Cupcake]

"To boost the British economy, I'd tax all foreigners living abroad."

https://youtu.be/S7j8yVlBcfI

[thebraketester]

RizzoTheRat said:

thebraketester said:

Recreational drugs

The Canadians reckon legalised marijuana should pull in around $400M/year, so it seems like a good earner, providing increased use doesn't lead to other issues.

I doubt use would increase to be honest with you. Taxes would make it more expensive so people might actually buy less of it.

[SamR380]

PurpleMoonlight said:

Here's a novel idea.

How about rewarding people who do what you would like, rather than punishing those that don't.

How do you pay for the rewards?

[Terminator X]

PurpleMoonlight said:

Here's a novel idea.

How about rewarding people who do what you would like, rather than punishing those that don't.

How can HMG earn tax from that though

TX.

[RizzoTheRat]

thebraketester said:

RizzoTheRat said:

thebraketester said:

Recreational drugs

The Canadians reckon legalised marijuana should pull in around $400M/year, so it seems like a good earner, providing increased use doesn't lead to other issues.

I doubt use would increase to be honest with you. Taxes would make it more expensive so people might actually buy less of it.

It'll be interesting to see the figures once it's been going for a while, I'd have assumed prices would drop even with taxation as it's a lot more people will be growing it and distribution is no longer risky. But then again I have no idea how much it costs anyway (despite living in the Netherlands )

Clockwork Cupcake said:

"To boost the British economy, I'd tax all foreigners living abroad."
https://youtu.be/S7j8yVlBcfI

So long as they don't start taxing Brits living abroad, The Americans started taxing their nationals working overseas and it caused a few issues. Loads of dual nationals gave up their US citizenship and we have very few Americans working here compared to other nationalities.

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Monday 26th November 15:25

[Clockwork Cupcake]

fourcandles said:

And I have never understood why it is just expected that higher earners pay more income tax. Surely it would be fairer to just have everyone pay the same flat amount (not percentage). £10k each should cover the current income tax take. You could probably make it close to £0: if people get to keep more of their income, they'll spend it and the government will get the cash anyway via VAT and other stealth taxes/duties.

Indeed. When people talk about how people should pay their "fair share" of tax, I sometimes think that their concept of "fair" involves bumper cars, ferris wheels, and coconut shies.

Also, have you noticed that everyone who says we should "tax the rich more" always defines "the rich" as people earning more than they do?

Personally, I'd like to see the big corporations paying some tax, rather than the government finding yet more ways to tax the individual. Doesn't even have to be a tax hike - just less sweetheart deals.

fourcandles said:

But the poll tax caused riots even though it was a much better, fairer system than the rates it was designed to replace. So I don't ever see an equitable tax system getting off the ground. The great unwashed would never allow it.

This is very true. After all, everyone produces the same amount of effluent, everyone uses the same amount of water. It was actually a very fair tax. A house with 10 people in it consumes more, and produces more, than a house with 2 in it. But as you say, it caused riots.

[Frimley111R]

BoRED S2upid said:

Vehicles are taxed higher based on size and therefore weight aren’t they? Compare a fiat 500 to a Range Rover a lot more tax and fuel which is also tax.

No, they are based on emissions which means a big and heavy 4x4Hybrid could pay the same/less tax than a family hatchback (don't quote me on that but hopefully you see the point).