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?

If you would like more services than you get you are advocating paying more council tax, not less.

I feel I pay too much tax and don't use many of the services. I am ok with the amount of council tax but it's the income tax that is too high and I don't think I would ever use more than I have paid in. I don't use the NHS only private and don't use state education. I guess I would have to use the ambulance service if I ever had an accident and the police. I would have to use these almost daily to get out some money back I have put in. It just makes me feel why did I work so hard to get to a good job to only get paid half. I don't even get child benefit. I would love it if I just got something free for once.

I don't get what your saying?

I am saying that having "dangerous" liquids being confiscated and put into a bin right next to the scanners doesn't seem to be improving safety much. Now we have a big bin full of liquids that may or may not have explosives.

if liquids can be scanned, why can't people take on a bottle of water?

They do talk to passengers, but passengers lie and terrorists aren't unique,

getting trained people to talk to passengers is what's done in Tel Aviv and airports in Israel and they, apparently, do a great job. The problem is that's expensive (hiring good people).

I lived in the US and the one thing I really liked was the ability to file taxes jointly. Wish we could do that in the UK!

In our particular situation we were a lot better off over there, since we were renting an apartment, so no property taxes, sales tax less than half vat, cheaper petrol as lower taxes on that and a great healthcare package through my dh's employer. State tax was also lower than council tax for us although if we'd both been working that wouldn't have been the case.

But it really depends on your individual situation. One of the first things I saw when we went to City Hall to arrange electricity was a sign telling people where to go to pay their ambulance bills!

And don't get me started on airport security over there. I did not relish the very intrusive pat downs they go in for, running their hands all over your boobs

Two weeks to see a GP? Woke up to a son with tonsillitis this morning, saw a Doctor an hour later, had antibiotics within 90 mins of getting up. For the price of my taxes. Bloody love it.

Vortexshedding, which other countries have you lived in?

Re council tax and that list my council spends 30% on paying pensions. I resent paying it.

Cleoteacher are you a teacher? If so it pays your salary

Your council spends 30 percent of its employee salary bill on pensions dhd not 30 percent of the council tax (actually generally 26.5 percent)

But yes clearly public sector pension levels are unaffordably high.

OK sorry your probably right, I just remember the figure from the headline. But the point stands that a lot of council tax doesn't go on these all important public services. I pay 40 a month to use the local public pool that only has a few hours each day that I can use it for and closes at 5 today.

The only time I've needed the council was for asbo neighbours and they were useless.

Yes true if anyone became disabled then my view may change but from what I read on here people with a disability don't get much from the state so I would have to find any additional care I needed myself

They'd be a lot more to spend on public services if there wasn't such a large chunk going on massive pensions.

Thing is sunshine once the savings have run out and the insurance refuses to pay, you'd be reliant on the state.
Oh, and it's the current austerity measures that are making it so bloody awful for those of us with family members with disabilities. That can be changed.

YABU. Fascinating thread and seems as though large majority agree we are not overtaxed.

You sound a bit like Nige Farage, OP. Are you Nigel?

Yes true if anyone became disabled then my view may change

Hahaha so you are going to resent paying tax when you don't feel you get more from it than you put in? And then reverse your opinion when you will need to take more from it than you put into it?

You do realise if everyone thought like you do the whole country would buckle.

Just because you are a high earner and can afford private healthcare and education you want to disregard any responsibility for the state who made you who you are today? Have you come from a long line of descendants who have never relied on state education or healthcare? On police or fire services? Were you born into a private hospital? Was the teacher who provided your private education also educated privately???

I've said it before and i'll say it again, *you cannot have "rich" without having "poor". You may not feel like you benefit from tax because at this point in time you can afford to pay for things yourself but ask yourself how you got to that position- it will either be largely down to the state or largely down to your parents. If its the latter, ask yourself how they got to that position. I think you will find you most likely owe the system you resent so much for everything you have now. I know I certainly do.

Off you go
Many millions of people desperate to get resident status will gladly take your place

And us tax isn't really much lower when you factor in all the house tax medi charges etc
If you want true tax relief nations you'd need Middle East, Caribbean or. Singapore, Hong Kong. All fabulous places but with other caveats to the lower tax

And for the record our tax bill is huge
We are the middle squeezed cliche I think it's always annoying to see the gross and net salary but I'll take that over pay as you go everything anytime

Totally agree Altinkum I don't think the selfish can see as far as their own noses.

Very disheartening.

Hmmm.

I am happy to pay tax in for the greater, communal good. I don't have children or use the NHS but I appreciate that everyone is not in a position of being financially stable that they could pay for everything themselves

However. It is a huge shock to see very large tax amounts coming off of pay (ie bonus amounts) - when you're told a figure but then it will just be cut in half because of tax that can feel tough. But perspective is key and it will do to remember how fortunate a position it is in the first place.