Budget 2009

[iCraig]

Would it just be insane to have a set percentage for all? So it's all relative. Everybody has the same relevant impact to their finances. Take somebody earning £800 a month and somebody earning £4000. Losing £80 from a £800 wage packet is going to sting as much as losing £400 from a £4000 wage packet.

In end-money terms the difference is stark, but the structure is there. The lifestyle is different, and in stark constrasts like that, £400 and £80 will be seen in the same manner by the two cases. Different amounts but same attitude to the amount, if you know what I mean?

[Steeps]

1.7 billion to be spent on the jobcentre network? There's already more people looking for work and more being laid off each week. That money needs to be spent on getting companies to employ people, not getting them to look for jobs which don't exist!

It also drives me nuts that they reckon they could save 10-15bn internally making the government "more efficient" (radio news monday), why was it allowed to be run so inefficient for all these years in the first place? Like the banks are supposedly being forced to restructure and start afresh the way they do business (really can't see that happening) I think the government needs an overhaul as most MP's seem to be living on a different planet half the time.

[Admiral Huddy]

Extactly, why punish those that work hard.. I'm just above the higher tax threshold and everything I do extra i pay the full tax on.. Even all the PC business I was doing .. and when ever I have to work weekends, I loose half of it in tax and NI plus I loose all sorts of other benefits such as family tax credits etc..

[iCraig]

Originally Posted by AcidHell2

It's not a contradiction, under a flat tax, everyone would get the same. Everyone is entitled to the personal allowance.
why punish those who work hard? who will already pay far more taxes through VAT and all the other hidden taxes. there is no justification to tax the well paid more, other than jealousy.

This would be a noble attitude if it actually worked in the way that "harder you work = more you earn" You and I both know that's a fairytale attitude. You've got people doing tough manual labour every day and getting average money, and then you've got empty suits in manager roles who've never done an honest ways work in their life and have risen to their large salary through being in the right board room at the right time.

Yes, some people advance through hard work and dedication, and some stay in the lower jobs because they can't be arsed to learn new skills and work harder, but it's far from a general rule in my opinion.

[Glaucus]

Originally Posted by iCraig

This would be a noble attitude if it actually worked in the way that "harder you work = more you earn" You and I both know that's a fairytale attitude. You've got people doing tough manual labour every day and getting average money, and then you've got empty suits in manager roles who've never done an honest ways work in their life and have risen to their large salary through being in the right board room at the right time.

Does that matter? in general anyone can do manual labour and as such it is low paid. A manager is much more skilled and has more worth and isn't easy to replace and so is paid more.

[Glaucus]

Originally Posted by Admiral Huddy

Extactly, why punish those that work hard.. I'm just above the higher tax threshold and everything I do extra i pay the full tax on.. Even all the PC business I was doing .. and when ever I have to work weekends, I loose half of it in tax and NI plus I loose all sorts of other benefits such as family tax credits etc..

I don't see your argument apart from proving why we should have a flat tax rate.

[Desmo]

A flat tax rate is unworkable now IMO. How would all of those people in the 20% bracket feel when another 20% just goes missing overnight? Most would see it as the rich stay the same whilst the poor get poorer.

Had it been done like this from the start then I agree it would be a reasonable system, but to just introduce it now would be havoc.

[Glaucus]

Originally Posted by Desmo

A flat tax rate is unworkable now IMO. How would all of those people in the 20% bracket feel when another 20% just goes missing overnight? Most would see it as the rich stay the same whilst the poor get poorer.

Because you wouldn't lose 20%. As the personal allowance is massively increased. it is very workable and works well.

[Admiral Huddy]

You beat me to it Desmo.. There is a tiered system of low, middle and high earners in this country and there should be tax bandings to suit. However, the exisiting higher tax (40%) threshold is too low. It needs changing so that there is something for everyone.

For those on very high incomes, the UK would just become a tax haven which I'm not sure would be good.

[Matblack]

Originally Posted by AcidHell2

It's not a contradiction, under a flat tax, everyone would get the same. Everyone is entitled to the personal allowance.
why punish those who work hard? who will already pay far more taxes through VAT and all the other hidden taxes. there is no justification to tax the well paid more, other than jealousy.

Its pointless anyway because anyone with that kind of money can afford an accountant who knows how to avoid income tax, the BBC themselves have pointed out how easy this is to circumvent :/

Its just another budget as far as I'm concerned, all the same small tax rises and some obscure breaks in various industries.

Just to address the nothing for Mr Average thing. If you gave a break to Mr Average it would cost a bloody fortune because of the number of people who fall into that bracket. Give a tax break to one armed transexual war veterans and it doesn't cost much, give a £10 rebate to all 2 armed 2 legged citizens and it costs a bloody mint thats why you don't and won't see it with this or any other government.

MB