Do we pay to much tax in the UK?

Question

I’ve been trying to work out how much money I actually give to Mr Brown per year and I’ve worked out I pay the following in tax a year:

£4505 income tax

£2052 National insurance

£115 Road Tax

£1170 Council Tax

£432 Fuel tax (based on a small car doing 10,000 miles a year)

All this tots up to £8274 and I’ve not included VAT or tax on alcohol.

As someone who is health young single without children it feels like I’m paying for everyone else.

Answer 1

There is a good argument for reducing fuel prices as the current price is giving the Chancellor extra £billions. There is also a good argument for reducing Income Tax since the 10p band was done away with. The rich get richer and the poor and the middle classes are being clobbered. It is totally unfair the way politicians at all levels give themselves allowances and other perks whilst us oiks have to pay for their snouts in the trough. Half the size of the Commons, half the size of the Lords, cut MEP's by 50%, half the MSPs and Welst and Irish assemblies. They are all a total drain. We are seriously overgoverned and it is our taxes that have to pay for it. forget the pensions arguements. education has had billions throwwn at it and so has the NHS. What has got better? more tiers of managers, lesss frontline staff. Ridiculous waste of money. Police Forces that have diversity officers, press officers and other sound bite wallahs. Do away with the lot of them and get more plods on the beat.

I feel a bit faint, I think I shall have to go and have a lie down.

Answer 2

Canada is taxed more than uk  our tax freedom day was last week. a white single male gets robbed he pays for all the immigrants and gets nothing, iam moving to the carribean suggest you save your money and get the h**l out of the uk

Answer 3

yes I live there we do pay way to much it is an out radge just crazy!

Answer 4

You're not paying it to Mr Brown.  About 75% of it goes to the National Health Service - and people are dying because there's not enough money.  OK, we could save a bit by not joining in America's wars, but it wouldn't make a great deal of difference.

When I started work, the standard rate of income tax was 41.25% (more than the rate millionaires now pay).  There was no VAT, but purchase tax on luxury goods was 55%.  Petrol was 6s 8d a gallon - adjusted for inflation, that's about £1.60 a litre.  Road fund licence was £18.10s 0d - about £370 in today's money.

We don't pay nearly enough tax.  You're only charged £8,274 because you can afford it.  Now stop whinging and live within your means.

Answer 5

Yes, I think we pay too much tax considering what we get for it.

The NHS is a joke - waiting times are ridiculous and of course anyone who can afford to go privately would choose to do so.  I would be in favour of a user-pays system for healthcare like in New Zealand - you pay about $20 for a doctor's visit (this is equivalent to about £6) but you can get an appointment whenever you want and you can see whichever doctor you want.  And, most people here can't find an NHS dentist even if they want one.

I too am young (if you consider 29 young) and I object to paying NI contributions because clearly, by the time I reach pension age, there isn't going to be any state pension anymore.  Or if there is, it will be a ridiculously low amount that won't be worth having, and I probably won't be entitled to it until I'm 80.

What I really object to in the UK is that there is so much free money given out to those who are not deserving of it.  People choose to be dole bludgers because it pays better than getting a minimum wage job.  Why not introduce a work-for-the-dole scheme?  In fact, benefits pay so well that many young girls see getting knocked up as preferable to getting a job, because their local council will provide them with a nice flat plus lots of disposable income.  Immigrants are entitled to claim benefits freely - if you're from an EU country you can get them the second you arrive - but what have these people ever contributed to our public funds to entitle them to this?  (Please note, I do not have a problem with immigration per se, but I do have a problem with those who take from society without contributing.)

Basically, I wouldn't object to paying the amount of tax that I do if I felt that I was getting something from it.  As it is though, I feel that all I get from it is street lighting and rubbish collections!

Answer 6

Even us with children pay tax as well, so we in essential are paying for you as well.

The tax credits are not that much to be honest, and we dont get help with council tax or anything else like that.  Also as a couple, we pay taxes twice so there is 2 times as much tax coming out of our household than there is yours as you are single.

Answer 7

it costs a lot of money for them to come and empty your dustbin don't ya know!

bloomin council tax grrrrrr don't get me going!

Answer 8

It's really quite ridiculous, and most of the money seems to be frittered away by unnecessary civil servants or saved up for their gold plated pensions.

We're the only country, as far as I know to put a tax on a tax...

VAT on fuel duty.

I also think Mr Brown and Mr Mugabe have a lot in common, especially as no one wants them, they've driven their land to rack and ruin, and especially target the poor for their own gratification.

Bloody extortionists.

Answer 9

que sera sera your not alone but you young people could do something about it

Answer 10

Are you paying for all those children that you've fathered?

Answer 11

I think you're right I feel that in Britain we're stuck in the middle - rest of Europe has higher taxes but much better healthcare, education, transport whereas say USA lower taxes so you can then pay for all those things privately if you have good job.

I think they should lower taxes for people who earn less then say £20 grand.

Answer 12

No, you're not paying for everyone else.  Everyone is paying the same or more.  When you are older, you'll benefit from the national insurance you are paying now, I certainly am.

Answer 13

The government take back 97 pence in every pound that you earn in an endless list of taxes

Answer 14

Sadly, today's generation will not benefit from the NI they have paid as there will be no government pension. Is it vital that all young people who are starting work, understand the importance of setting up a private pension.

I don't mind paying tax as such but I would like a greater say in how it is used. I don't want my taxes being used to fund the lazy gits who would rather sit at home, drinking, smoking and breeding at the expense of the Benefits Agency. In addition, everytime you go to the doctor you are benefitting from what you have put in. We may complain about prescription charges but some of these drugs cost way, way more that the charge.

A VAT inspector once told me that the amount of VAT that the UK collects in each year is pretty much equivalent to our "being in Europe" bill and that we don't get anywhere near as much back for the privilege. It would seem to me that if we pulled out of Europe and kept up the VAT we could either, pay less tax, or be able to properly fund, schools, hospitals and the like.

This may sound simplistic as I am basing my statement on a comment from a VAT inspector but I have not actually reasearched this!

ETA - you may be paying for other peoples kids to go to school but you are also paying for the education of the future leaders of this county. That is something we should all invest in- unless we want a bunch of scummy chav's running the country.