What's your opinion on tax?

What's your opinion on tax avoidance (at the top) and what should be done about it?

It's a battle we are always going to lose i think. Even if you got an EU tax rate (try getting that past the Tories and Ukip) then you still have Singapore ect.. You can try prosecute individuals but i doubt we'll ever have much success with firms unless we adopt a much more protectionist approach which makes us less dependent on foreign firms for employment.

I do think people need to actually at look which companies are tax avoiding though. People are always trying to levy and tax banks when they actually pay most if not all of their tax, i'm yet to hear about a levy on Google.

That's the point of advocacy of tax choice. Many people feel that areas they approve of are underfunded whereas areas they don't want are overfunded, therefore "taxation by consent" will not occur.

Then again, you're taking it slightly to the extreme. There's hardly anyone who disapproves of psychopath clinics and drains do they? (by the way, sewage systems are part of council taxes not income taxes so there is no tax choice)

This is mainly for those who feel that their money supports a cause that is immoral or grievously inefficient.

I don't like that attitude though because once you say ' it's a battle we can't win' you basically concede ground and accept tax avoidance like a part of life.

No, you are not right. That is why I chose the examples I did.

Tax choice is the unbundling of services without a way of providing secure funding.

You chose examples that are not affected by tax choice at all ... sewage comes out of council taxes and Debt Interest, Public Order (which mental health institutions come under, not healthcare) and Justice budgets are protected.




Income taxes provide less than half of government revenue in the UK. Income taxes from people in Bracket 1 and 2 provide less than half (45%) of income tax revenue.

That is around 105bn up for tax choice. That's not a lot.

I'd rather have the money in my pay cheque to be honest, anyone who says otherwise is lying, but I accept that taxation is needed. 20% is a fair rate for someone on my income bracket (£25-30k), however I think it should be lower or even scrapped entirely if you're on the minimum wage.

Council Tax is the one that really irks me. Ridiculously high rates and the threat of prosecution if you miss 1 payment? K den.

Personally, I like tax, for this country at least. Britain helps its citizens a great deal, the NHS, benefits, schools, etc. Tax money goes to great things like schools and police officers. Although I don't want to fund moronic addicts that need seven organ transplants, I think that it's worth it overall. I don't understand why some people hate tax so much, if you use the NHS and other services then you should imo. I would only think it justifiable for someone not to pay tax if they were some sort of hermit that didn't use any government services whatsoever.

It's not a tax, it's a reduction in housing benefit. It's just been named as a tax by the left (though it was implemented badly and should go in its current form).



I agree with the need for tax however government is greedy and spends my money on rubbish. Ergo i think taxation should be lowered and completely reformed.

I don't like that attitude though because once you say ' it's a battle we can't win' you basically concede ground and accept tax avoidance like a part of life. A bit like the weather, it's annoying but nothing you can do about it.
I don't believe there's nothing we can do.
Work with other countries in a co-ordinated effort to close down the loopholes. In fact why not make it illegal to use these loopholes in the first place? And have heavy fines and prison sentences for those who partake in tax avoidance.
We have to stop letting big corporations bully governments.

And for perspective, it's estimated that over 100 billion a year is lost through tax evasion and avoidance and at least 30-40 billion in avoidance alone.
Benefit fraud costs us 1.2 billion.
We mercilessly go after and penalise the latter whilst looking the other way for the former.
It's absolutely not right.
If we clamp down on tax avoidance then maybe people like you and I wouldn't have to pay so much.

I agree with a couple of people in here. Tax is worth it in the long run, however since we cannot decide where our tax goes, it can be irritating.

I personally, would give nothing to the royals and most likely would give all of my taxes to the environmental department.

I swear the only thing you post about is tax avoidance.

The royal family is basically a modern economic miracle, they bring in far more than they take out by a ridiculous amount.