To think more things should be tax deductible

[DyslexicScientist]

Many things are essential but you can't claim back income tax relief.

Like work commuting costs, prescription charges and NHS dentist charges. I believe other countries allow this but the uk doesn't. There is unfair advantages with being a contractor vs permie.

Similarly if your a student there is no tax relief on a laptop even though that is essential.

Aibu to want a tax overhaul?

Since when was a laptop a student essential? That's what the computer labs and library are for...

I think simpler taxes are generally a good thing. So lower, flatter and fewer (or even no) exemptions would be the way I'd go.

A lot of students don't earn enough to pay tax in the first place.

Why should you be able to claim back tax on a regular work commute?

What would be the point of tax exemption for NHS charges?

NHS charges are for items which are generally heavily subsidised by taxes, then you want to have tax relief on paying them. That makes my head hurt

Similarly if your a student there is no tax relief on a laptop even though that is essential.

Presumably not many students are actually earning enough to pay tax on it, so any change would be costly to implement and wouldn't affect that many people.

I don't think contractors can claim back prescription or dental costs for tax purposes, and any financial advantage that contractors have over permanent staff are begin eroded in the forthcoming shake-up of the travel and subsistence expenses system - is that the kind of overhaul you're talking about?

Well you can claim for eye tests and glasses, if they are needed for work use (ie reading glasses for computer work etc or driving glasses if driving is your job).

You can't claim for normal travelling to and from work, but you can claim if your 'usual place of work' is at home or other premises owned or run by you, and you have to travel to carry out work at clients etc.

And you can claim for dental work, but you need to be an actor, model, television presenter etc, where appearance is an essential part of earning your living.

So, so few students pay tax that I'm not sure who that would benefit. A laptop is not essential.

Commuting costs are taken on voluntarily. If you work 10 miles from work and your colleague world's 20 miles from work then why should you be taxed differently for doing the same work? There is a workd of difference between being self employed and employed, travel expenses don't rank at all.

Wouldn't a more complex system of what is tax deductible mean that more people would have to fill in a tax return?

If you are a taxpaying student you are extremely well off compared to most incurring debt for education and should get on and pay tax.

I think deductions make more sense where the PA is small. UK has a large PA plus tax credits for childcare and pensions, some of which can be claimed even if tax was not paid in the first place. UK also has comparatively low tax rate. I don't think you can have high deductibles on top of this.

My US citizen DD would have to pay tax if she won the lottery so maybe we should look at broadening the tax base.

On medical costs we have largely free treatment rather than tax deductible insurance which I think is fairer and cheaper to administer.

I would prefer more subsidy for public transport on commuter routes to a tax deduction.

Lots of big companies do student discounts
For laptops which would be more than
Having a tax relief.

I agree with you.

But I think it should apply more to things like water bills. We should each be given a personal tax allowance for gas and electricity, fridges, washing machines, things that are essential to a basic standard of normal modern living.

If it were going to apply to dental charges, then it should be done by treatment, not only NHS treatments. Plenty of people can't get an NHS dentist and have no choice but to pay privately if they need dental work.

Um, you already don't pay tax on first £10k earned. No need for more.

Actually permanent staff can also claim tax relief on travel costs if they have to travel to an office that is not their permanent place of work.

For general travel costs no you cannot.
But there are lots of times you can including over nights and including foods.

Any professional fees and subs you can claim.

If you regular work from home there's stuff you can claim back on.

I think the PA should be allowed to be used where the recipient decides. E.g. Dp pays 40% tax and I don't earn £10k so I should be able to specify that my PA goes on DP's tax code. Likewise my 18+ dcs who are studying and don't earn 10K, why can't their surplus be added to dp's tax code as well? Providing this is reviewed annually in arrears (like so many other tax related stuff) I can't see it being that much of a problem.

I think the PA should be allowed to be used where the recipient decides. E.g. Dp pays 40% tax and I don't earn £10k so I should be able to specify that my PA goes on DP's tax code

For that to balance, the PA would have to drop massively meaning that for anyone who didn't have a non-earning spouse or adult children, the PA would be much, much lower.

All children have an allowance, not just 18+. Would you want that taken into account too?

In Germany you can claim back tax for travel to normal place of work. Why not it incentives working more.

Actually that's another thing income tax and Ni is a mess. I'd make that just one tax, Ni just ends up in general taxation coffer's anyway.

The tax system could be made fairer and simpler.

A laptop is essential, even if some places Give a student discount why not allow students to claim back the vat?

A laptop is essential, even if some places Give a student discount why not allow students to claim back the vat?

Because no individuals can claim back VAT?

A laptop is essential, even if some places Give a student discount why not allow students to claim back the vat?

Anyone can buy an NUS card. How would you define "students" anyway?

To make this net nil, you would just increase the basic rate of tax - NI is maintained because employers also pay it.
Unless you want to reduce your tax bill and make some other bugger pay it, which is generally what these threads are about.

Ego fair question.

I agree about NI. I think the tax brackets look really distorted. For most people the 20% and 40% rates are actually 32% and 42%. That looks completely different as 32% isn't half of 42% Though I'm not sure about self employed people. It would also stop any 'we won't change income tax' then fiddling about with NI.