AIBU about Tax Credits cuts,

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Commons back Osborne plan for tax credit cuts
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34260902

I don't claim anymore because I now earn enough to support myself - because I could work and progress my career as well as my life while being a single parent.

AIBU to think this is a total travesty and so many single parents are going to have their life's devastated by this - and what about people in domestic abuse situations who will now be more unable to leave?

Maybe I some benefits scrounger - but the tax credits enabled me to be a good parent and role model to my kids - without their feckless father affecting that .... AIBU?!

In fact if our corporation tax were zero we might get so many businesses moving here other tax receipts might soar and the poor might be in clover as we would have so much spare money to spend on them.

Yes because a low corporation tax has worked out so well for Ireland. At lease they actually got some tax though.

Binkybix, I think the £25 billion housing benefit bill also includes LHA (Local Housing Allowance) which is housing benefit for private rentals. Housing Benefit is for socially rented homes, so it is probably the sum total of both private and social rented housing benefit if that makes sense?

The Government is putting corporation tax down to 19%. Remember most companies in the Uk are absolutely tiny and most employees amazingly work in businesses with 5 or fewer stafff which is an amazing statistic. So there sin't for most people some big corporate boss unless you work for BT or whatever or the state that is making masses of profit at your expense. There might indeed be the local cafe owner making less than the wages he pays his staff. Whether people are taxed on the money their limited company makes or just when they draw the money out of the business is something the state has grappled with for years. My brother incorporated for tax reasons but I never hvae because I always seem to need the cash to feed the children so storing it for years in a limited company is no use.

But then most people are sole traders, even those with 4-5 staff. You would only incorporate for reasons of selling shares as a method of raising funds for expansion, or to protect yourself if you were going to fund expansion with big loans.

"My brother incorporated for tax reasons", so there are positive reasons for incorporating.

I'm tired of right wingers arguing for low taxes and a smaller state, they only want a smaller state when it suits them. Private profits and social risk is what they really want !

Binkybix, I think the £25 billion housing benefit bill also includes LHA (Local Housing Allowance) which is housing benefit for private rentals. Housing Benefit is for socially rented homes, so it is probably the sum total of both private and social rented housing benefit if that makes sense?

Ah I see - thanks!! That was bugging me.

We need a lot less tax all round and a much smaller state

Lol what like America, where you have less social protection and open the population up to greater risk to themselves and from private organisations. No thanks. A US study showed NHS more efficient and cheaper than their health care system, and the premium doesn't mean better care. You also get more large scale environmental accidents, and more social problems.

Not everyone has either the capacity financially through entrenched privileged or socially to be this mythical "personally responsible" citizen.

Actually the US and UK tax rates are about the same once you take in account local and federal taxes.

US tax burden is about 25%, compared to UK 35% of GDP - rates are similar, but they get more allowances. No-one said that adopting lower tax rates means copying the US - the Singaporean health system costs less than the NHS per head and delivers better healthcare outcomes across the income spectrum.

True but US not singapore is held up as the right wing dream, and hence why we have TTIP going on in the background and cons selling us out to big business, but thats another thread.

If you are comparing with Singapore then probably makes sense to have central London as a city state and leave the rest of the country to run a mixed economy.

US corporation tax rate is 35% .....

I was comparing personal tax as ultimately everyone takes theirm oney out of the company and is taxed oni t. I compared with a friend over there - when we added in local income taxes and federal taxes the rates were pretty similar between UK and US.

I agree US and UK personal tax rates are pretty similar having worked in both countries. However the approach to taxing families with dc is far more generous in the US and we pay for the NHS as part of the package. Even with health insurance getting ill in the US is costly.

One of the biggest barriers in the US health system is the tax incentives for people to receive health insurance from employers (these incentives are mainly supported by democrats and unions), and it's an utter disaster. Until the recent reforms, individuals had huge financial barriers to getting insurance.

It of course makes no sense whatsoever to tie health insurance to employers. People are reluctant to move jobs in many cases even though it would otherwise make sense. And it of course it heaps more misfortune on those who lose their jobs.

I had a benefit check at my local CAB this afternoon to see how this would affect me. I will lose all of my tax credits of £215 every four weeks. I work full time and expected some reduction but, gulp, to lose everything will be really hard. It's half our weekly shop! At least I know now and can get ready for when they stop in April. God knows how those on lower wages will cope.

Fucking hell!