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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel that having nearly half of your salary taken away is just not right?

877 replies

WinnieTheWho · 27/05/2012 10:38

I don't earn enough to pay tax & NI but my DH has a pretty good job & salary for which he works BLOODY hard. I was horrified to work out after last pay day that for EVERY £1 he earned, he only kept 60 pence. This is due to a combination of paying very high income tax and NI, as well losing all of his personal allowance because he might get a bonus at the end of the year! It just seems that if you work hard to get paid well and you are a PAYE taxpayer, the Government & HMRC will just shaft you from all angles. It just makes me wonder why we bother? So... AM I BEING UNREASONABLE? Confused

OP posts:
giveitago · 27/05/2012 13:33

YABU - I was on a high salary and I'm now on a low salary - my employer is asking me to do extra days (with time off in lieu) and I can't afford to do so because although it's nice to have time off in lieu, what I can't afford is the childcare for the extra days they want me to work.

I still don't begrudge paying my taxes, though. And I wonder actually if my burden is higher than your dh's.

TheUnMember · 27/05/2012 13:36

The problem is that some people equate earnings with working hard. This what annoys the rest of us who also work bloody hard for just as many hours but earn diddly squat in comparison.

Quite, and certainly in my husband's case, he's also doing something he loves. He does work hard and he does work long hours, but he loves every minute of it. Work is so much harder when you're on a treadmill to pay the bills, doing something you hate.

Original poster
WinnieTheWho · 27/05/2012 13:36

Yes I do - because his 20 - 30% will be a lot more than 20-30% of 15K.
It's all relative.
I wouldn't begrudge paying 30% on my teeny weeny salary if I knew Wayne Rooney was paying 30% of his £50 million too.
We would have so much more money in HMRC's coffers if that were the case

OP posts:
LineRunner · 27/05/2012 13:39

Have you ever thought of standing for election?

TheUnMember · 27/05/2012 13:41

If everyone pays the same rate of tax then the burden is greatest on the poorest.

Original poster
WinnieTheWho · 27/05/2012 13:43

linerunner no because I'm honest and can't lie very convincingly Grin

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 27/05/2012 13:43

What I feel is totally unacceptable is that the more money you earn, the greater proportion of it you lose to tax & NI if you are on PAYE

Tax is banded, you do realise that? Your husband does not pay 40% on ALL of his salary, only the portion that goes into that bracket.

I wouldn't begrudge paying 30% on my teeny weeny salary if I knew Wayne Rooney was paying 30% of his £50 million too

But he will be... and more.

bumbleymummy · 27/05/2012 13:45

They actually end up better off on the 30% proposal Unmember - the threshold is increased to 10k iirc.

tinkerbel72 · 27/05/2012 13:46

Why do you think Wayne Rooney isn't paying tax? I imagine he pays mega bucks- even with any legal 'loopholes' which maybe allow him to not pay quite as much.

LineRunner · 27/05/2012 13:47

Really.

UtterlyButterly · 27/05/2012 13:48

I am tempted to buy the DM for the first time ever just to see if this discussion becomes an article.

It screams DM to me.

fullofregrets · 27/05/2012 13:49

I have not read all the posts but my DH is a higher rate tax payer. I am at sahm so I guess he is contributing for both of us.
Neither of us mind the fact he pays the higher rate, I think it only ever bothers DH when he hears of money going to less than worthy causes or seemingly being wasted. Not too thrilled about losing the cb myself as that is the only money I have in my name but that's another issue and my choice I guess.

Original poster
WinnieTheWho · 27/05/2012 13:49

Linerunner - where's your sense of humor?

OP posts:
LineRunner · 27/05/2012 13:50

You know Rude Kid in Viz? That's funny, what he says.

MushroomSoup · 27/05/2012 13:54

AKissIsNotAContract I'm doing well - thank you.
And I will have free yearly check ups for ten more years, free MRI scans, ultra sound scans, cervical smears as well as doctor's appointments when I need them with no end of medication costing next to nothing!

KatieScarlett2833 · 27/05/2012 13:55

I suppose all of the HR taxpayes bleating on here expect to stay in perfect health all of their lives, always being able to work and earn at their current capacity?

If you were injured/disabled/made redundant/sacked/abandoned
by HR paying DP and unable to work and had to rely on state benefits (which are subsistence-only) you would read back your comments on here and cringe at yourself.

TantrumsAndBalloons · 27/05/2012 13:56

I'm just going to end up repeating myself so I'll just say this.

if you earn a significantly higher amount than the majority of people it is only fair that you contribute more, because you can afford to. IMHO it's that simple

And no matter what link, what legislation what anything anyone posts the fact is people on minimum wage will never be as comfortable as someone who falls into a higher tax band.
Therefore you have no right to suggest everyone should pay the same percentage of tax, it just sounds line the age old policy of the rich getting richer and the lower income families bearing the brunt, just so the op can have a bit more change in her pocket.

bumbleymummy · 27/05/2012 13:58

KS, people haven't always been HE - it takes a while to work up to it so they're well aware of what it feels like to have very little income too. If we were in that situation we certainly wouldn't be screaming for people who earn more to pay more in tax.

TantrumsAndBalloons · 27/05/2012 14:00

But you would be if you were on a very low income and your tax credit was cut.

Or the local hospital closed its a&e

Or there was no police on the street?

bumbleymummy · 27/05/2012 14:00

Tantrums, clearly you didn't bother to read about the proposal then.....you're also generalising again - just because someone earns more does not automatically mean that they have more disposable income

Nancy66 · 27/05/2012 14:01

I do think higher earners should pay more. However I also think that:

Being well-off doesn't automatically make you a stuck up twat, just as being on benefits doesn't automatically mean you are scum.

it's a fine line between taxing high earners the right amount while not trampling on ambitions and incentives to earn the money they do AND keep it in the country.

bumbleymummy · 27/05/2012 14:01

Why would those things happen Tantrum?

CrispyCod · 27/05/2012 14:03

Only read the OP but YANBU, I totally agree.

TantrumsAndBalloons · 27/05/2012 14:06

I don't think it's too much of a stretch to assume a person earning in excess of £4000 per month would have more disposable income than a person who earns £600 per month and has just lost their tax credits.

I've yet to meet a person earning that amount of money who goes hungry to feed their children, however I know many working parents in that situation and was myself a few years ago.

KatieScarlett2833 · 27/05/2012 14:06

I know that, thanks. My DH is a HE and if I worked full time so would I be.

However, since I don't know how to operate my crystal ball, I can't assume that this will always be the case.

If I die my salary dies too.
If I become ill and unable to work, ditto.
If I am paid off and unable to find another high-paying job, ditto once more
If one of my children/parents/PIL become ill and need to be cared for (strong possibility) I will have to leave my job.

I meet people every day for whom the above scenarios are all too true. Through no fault of their own. Not many of those former HE peeps are sympathising with others earning loads paying 40% tax.

There but for the grace of God go I.

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