observer Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Quite a good policy idea to tax the rich, by increasing rates on ?1mill plus homes, in order to give to the poor in tax cuts. Wonder if it'll catch on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 I think the policy idea is starting to unravel already Observer, from reports that I read in today's newspapers. I suppose that he could have said that they would introduce extra high rate council tax bands, would have been simpler....albeit that I disagree with such a policy. Worth noting that not all people living in valuable homes are cash rich and able to pay extra property taxes. On the subject of tax, maybe best to levy it on income and remove anomolies and loopholes. There was an interview with a chap on the news, and I found it amusing that he was very specific with the valuation of his home, ?1.65 million as I recall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 I had little sympathy for him, but I do wonder about people living on a pension or other relatively modest fixed income in a house which may be worth a fair bit, but on which they've paid off the mortgage. And who is to perform the valuations anyway???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 On the subject of tax, maybe best to levy it on income and remove anomolies and loopholes. I agree, A Tory advocating a progressive tax system, gets my vote Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Falls off chair...... I would certainly want to see those on minimum wage removed from the tax system, at the moment they would pay tax, then have to claim benefits, which seems pretty daft as well as inefficient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 The only problem is when house prices are fluctuating as they are at the moment, a house worth ?1 million last year is now worth a fair bit less so the owner would rightly demand a revaluation.... when the house prices start to rise, the council could demand a revaluation.... who pays? how long would a valuation be valid for? could you demand one every week? Yet another example to Liberal nonsense! Beats me why anyone even listens to them..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted September 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Just increase the range of Council Tax Bands - sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry hayes Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Methinks one of the great scandals is that a person can be better off on the dole than working (some exceptions I know). Let's be honest and increase income tax fairly sharply but also raise the amount you can earn before tax to a greater extent. QED, in my opinion. ( interpreted as quite easily done.) Happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 HH agreed!! Gorgon Brown has distorted the tax system so much over the last 12 years that the poorest paid people now pay the highest tax. Raise the tax threshold to a more realistic level (?10,000+) taking the poorest out of tax altogether, and scrap the costly, and very demeaning, tax credit system giving people an incentive to earn money rather than relying on the state (tax payers!). OOPs! sorry that won't work, Gorgon wouldn't have anyone to vote for him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Gorgon wouldn't have anyone to vote for him You've let the cat out of the bag now. My guess is that even those within the "client state" that he has created have cottoned on to what is going on, and many will just not vote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted September 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 The irony is; that the Chavs that are generally benefit dependent don't vote - so the bread and games theory doesn't quite work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted September 23, 2009 Report Share Posted September 23, 2009 I understand that their major policy proposal will be that VAT on sandals and togas should be slashed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted September 23, 2009 Report Share Posted September 23, 2009 Lib Dems were in open revolt last night, accusing their leaders of creating tax-and-spend policies on the hoof. Senior figures and grassroots supporters branded several headline-grabbing initiatives unveiled at their conference 'codswallop'. Main target was Treasury spokesman Vince Cable's new 'mansion tax' policy, which was dubbed 'suicidal' at an angry meeting of the Parliamentary party. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1215340/Lib-Dem-frontbenchers-turn-Clegg-brand-mansion-tax-policy-codswallop.html#ixzz0RuYYgGSa and some more: The cult of Vince Cable continues to elude me. How on earth did this mediocre, middlebrow MP come to be Britain's most trusted politician? His speech to the Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth was a platitude-packed dirge and his plan to save the nation by soaking the so-called rich is just plain stupid. Cable's reputation seems to be founded upon the 'Mr Bean' quip he stole from journalist Leo McKinstry and a talent for stating the bleedin' obvious. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1215157/LITTLEJOHN-Saint-Vinny-simply-bob-politician-make.html#ixzz0Ruaf0oNl Says it all I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted September 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2009 Errm, what's wrong with "soaking the rich"; and in a world of politicians being alien to common sense, what'e wrong with "stating the obvious"? btw. you forgot the tax on clean shaven, Anglo-Saxon, working class males! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted September 23, 2009 Report Share Posted September 23, 2009 Errm, what's wrong with "soaking the rich" But for what purpose. Personally I don't have a problem with people becoming rich through honest entreprenurial endevour. With regards to soaking them, why not just remove tax anomolies and loopholes, so that as far as tax is concerned there is an even playing field for all. At the same time the tax and benefits system should be simplified.....but maybe that's for another post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted September 23, 2009 Report Share Posted September 23, 2009 It all depends on how you define "the rich". Is it someone who has more money than yourself or someone who saves rather than spends? Who will set the height of the bar? Tricky!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 Most super-rich can employ a team of lawyers and accountants to dream up tax avoidance schemes, and thus finish up paying less than the average Pleb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 They can't actually dream them up Observer...much as they might like to, what they can do is exploit the loopholes etc that exist in the existing rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 may be a better way would be to simplify the tax form. just two questions. 1) how much have you got 2) when can you send it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 Think the correct term for "dreaming up" avoidance schemes is "creative accountancy" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted October 4, 2009 Report Share Posted October 4, 2009 I agree with Obs, if your Rich you can avoid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted October 4, 2009 Report Share Posted October 4, 2009 I agree with Obs, if your Rich you can avoid and of course you have proof that EVERY rich person avoids tax? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted October 4, 2009 Report Share Posted October 4, 2009 not all only those that can afford it, are you disputing this Baz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2009 and Baz, you have "proof" that they don't?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted October 4, 2009 Report Share Posted October 4, 2009 not all only those that can afford it, are you disputing this Baz So some rich people can't afford to avoid tax? What a wierd way of viewing "rich" people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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