To really resent the amount of tax we pay.

[KettleBelles]

I hate it, we pay a vast amount of tax to live in a country where we can't see a GP for a fortnight, feel criminalised every time we go to an airport, pay even more tax again to drive a car on inadequate and over crowded roads. Get squashed on crowded transport which is filthy and unreliable, where criminals seem to always be on the beneficial side of human rights.

I can't be the only one who feels like this?

At the airport we're herded like cattle, treated as potential terrorists, made to remove shoes, prevented from parking. We pay for this service.

When you talk about feeling criminalised when you go to the airport do you mean the safety measures to try and stop people from blowing up or hijacking the plane you're traveling on? What utter bastards for trying to keep you (and many others) safe.

in the USA if you don't have adequate health insurance just giving birth will set you back $15k

Whoever thinks that that tax credits are a good idea is deranged

I think tax credits are a great idea, just unfortunate that it costs you about £20 in phone credit to speak to them when you need to

I'd rather pay $15000 per child and pay less tax. That's for sure.

If you are self employed or got other income you have to declare and pay today, then yes, you'll be feeling the pinch and resentful today.

I work at an accountant. Today is the day every client will be bloody moaning about having to pay tax. If you looked at what they pay annually split over the year, it isn't usually as bad, it's just that it comes in one lump that it seems so unreasonable. And of course 99% of them leave it to today and panic about finding the money instead of planning it out sensibly over the year. And of course their taxation is lower than they would have paid on the same income through PAYE because generally speaking it's advantagous to be self employed.

I just tell them they should be glad they are paying this much tax, because the alternative is to earn less. Would they rather earn less and pay less tax? OK, then make the choice to do that.

I can't stand the fucking whinging from them all today.

Nope! I think we of pretty well out if the taxes we pay.
Re the US, my DH is a lawyer who works for an American investment bank. He sees the US system close up. The overall financial burden for his American colleagues is huge. Even with health insurance, deductibles are still quite high. In many areas, you either pay for school or risk your child's safety. Also, even senior execs only get 4wks holiday a year. Work/life balance is generally poor with long late nights expected.

And if you compare us to some other European countries, your tax burden isn't really that high.

I'm a teacher and dh's tax is more than my salary but it's all part of belonging to a compassionate social system and a health service which is free at point of need.

Safety measures at the airport because we let so many deranged nutters through our borders in the first place.

You have a home, food and warmth.

That's more than millions of people.

You need to reasses your privilege.

Based on your airport comment how on earth are you intelligent enough to hold a position where you pay higher rate tax?

We both pay a large amount of tax. I'm more than happy to do so for several reasons; first, it means we're both in work. Second, we have two children in school who are receiving a fantastic, free education. Third, we have had dozens of ENT appointments with ES who has had hearing problems since he was born and several operations to boot. Fourth, we've had dozens of appointments with surgical outpatients with YS as he has flat feet and wore special boots for a couple of years as a littley, and still has custom-made inserts for his shoes. Not once have we been refused treatment or made to pay extortionate fees or had to take out a second mortgage on our home for any of those hospital visits. I can't even imagine the cost elsewhere.

Begrudging paying tax is pointless; you might resent it but it's not optional. If it truly upsets you, get a lower-paid job and pay less. You'll be so skint you won't have time to get irate over paying high amounts of tax. Believe me, I've been at the other end of the spectrum and I much prefer to be grateful at this end.

Airport security, just trying to keep us safe. Bastards

4 weeks holiday a year is an absolute luxury compared to what we take.

You'll also find American airports even more uptight about security at this time.

Christ, remind me to not invite you lot to a dinner party. We'd have nothing to discuss.

Well if you moved to the US you'd probably pay a LOT more in local and state taxes than you do here. My relatives in the US, who are not well paid, pay many thousands of dollars in taxes every year, on top of income tax. And you'd have roads that, apart from the interstates, often look as if they belong in communist-eara Eastern Europe, ancient and unsafe road a rail bridges, a disastrous public (state) education system, no NHS, crap or no public transport outside a handful of cities, and you'd still get to feel criminalised every time you go to the airport.

What annoys me most of all about UK tax is having to pay a larger proportion as you earn more.

If you earn a lot, you pay more anyway with a flat rate because you earn a lot

In the NHS as your income goes up you also pay a higher percentage into your pension as well - no idea whether other organisations do this.

Makes me really cross

We're all positively traumatised that we won't be invited to your dinner parties.

But Kettle that is your choice as a self employed person. If you budgeted on earning 48wks worth of salary then it would be fine rather than see a 2k holiday as costing you 2k+10days without pay.

I like paying tax. I'm happy to pay in for communal good.

lol, yes obviously all passports should have a special tickbox to declare if you are a deranged nutter or not. If you tick that you are then you won't be allowed to buy a plane ticket. Simple.

I get riled not so much by the amount of tax I pay as how some of it is spent and also the way that the super rich and corporations dodge tax.

If your dinner party conversation piece is you moaning about your tax bill then I think I can live without the invite

Erm, full time workers are entitled to 28 days a year in the UK (5.6 weeks). If you don't take it that's your problem.

yawn

Having lived in four countries, including the USA and Australia, I can honestly say that I think the UK has it about right. Shame the NHS isn't amazing, but it's much better than the USA's healthcare-for-the-rich-only system. Shame about airport security, but we aren't treated like criminals as much as in US airports. UK roads are better than just about everywhere I've been, and maybe public transport could be a little better - but I've seen much, much worse in Ireland, Australia and the USA.

I think the OP is a tad delusional tbh.