If there's already a thread on this please let me know a link and ignore this one.
Just heard on radio4 that a cross-party commission of MPs is recommending that to pay for adequate social care for disabled and extremely elderly people there needs to be more tax (so far so good. Yay) and that the best way to increase the tax revenue needed is to increase income tax for people aged 40+.
AIBU to think this is incredibly unfair. Compare (i) a couple in their 20s or 30s with no kids and an ok combined income, not in receipt of any benefits and renting their home. (ii) another couple with the same income but over 40 and with a couple of kids, renting a larger home because of the kids. What on earth makes couple (ii) better able to pay more tax than couple (i). Age is simply not a reasonable criterion for paying more tax.
Yes we need to pay more tax, absolutely. This idea to make your 40th birthday the trigger to start paying for it isn't right though. No one is going to suddenly get more resources to be able to pay more tax the day they turn 40.
Tax needs to be on those who can afford it. Why is there this fear of taxing higher wealth and income across the board rather than arbitrarily taxing a 41 year old who is going to be no wealthier (and could be poorer) than a nearby 39 year old.