To think all keyworkers should have their tax stopped for the next two years

[marysuzairn]

All of those that worked throughout covid need to be rewarded. Why not just stop all tax for every nurse, care worker, teacher (and assistant), gas engineer, pharmacist etc. They kept the country going and weren't just at home on 80% pay (and actually better off with less outgoing). Isn't it time to now reward them appropriately?

I was on the keyworker list. And I sure as hell wouldn’t meet the OP’s definition of a key worker I’m sure. This is bollocks.

@trappedsincesundaymorn

I just don’t agree with people jumping up and down about how they pay tax on their furlough payments as if they’re making a net contribution to the pot rather than taking from it

The same could apply to those paying tax and receiving child tax credits.

True, its all about the net position.

I don’t in any way object to anyone not making a net contribution if they can’t work or are such low earners. It’s the big corporations and billionaires that should be paying more, that’s the problem with the system. I just don’t see what’s wrong with stating the fact that ‘paying’ tax from money you’ve been granted from the government in the first place isn’t the same as paying it from money you’ve earned from a separate employer.

It’s off topic anyway, and the thread is pretty unanimous that no key workers paying tax is a terrible idea so probably no need to worry too much about it!

@LaurieMarlow

but ultimately the govt granted you the money in the first place so you didn’t personally ‘pay the tax’.

That’s the same as public sector salaries though, no?

I personally think it’s different because a salary is paid for work you have done while furlough is effectively a temporary unemployment benefit for the employee who can’t work. I don’t want to sound like some evil Scrooge, I think furlough is essential and I’m forever grateful that I haven’t had to make use of it which could have easily been the case. I in no way look down on anyone who is on furlough, but factually it isn’t money they have worked for. If I were furloughed I would be very grateful that the scheme and the money was there but I would be under no illusions that I had earned it in the same way as I earn my salary. So I don’t think I would be claiming to be a tax payer in the same way as when I’m working, even though the tax is technically deducted from the furlough grant.

Yes please

No seriously I would just like the overtime paid but it’s not going to happen

(2/3 hours a day for sometime it’s a lot of hours)

Ballybeyondthepail -

My DH works in fiance. A lot of people have jaw dropping amounts of money. But its also a lot of people with pensions, modest investments and savings. I cant speak about your friends job but DH's isnt just about the wealthy although people tend to think it is.

He's not deemed a 'keyworker' though. Mind you without his department the company could not function at all. There would be an outcry I expect if people had no access to their pensions and savings.

My only point being that a lot of jobs are 'key' its just not immediately obvious.

The money ultimately was granted by the government in many more jobs than those furloughed georgina, including all the public sector and outsourced roles in the private sector, so your first paragraph doesn't really say what you want it to.

Wow OP I don't think you really thought that one through did you.

DH furloughed despite not wanting to be and has now been made redundant due to coronavirus. He's not sitting merrily on the sofa having a lovely time.

Many will now be out of work and claiming benefits from the gov to survive meaning an awful lot less money in the pot anyway. Tax cuts for some will mean increases for others.

I personally think it’s different because a salary is paid for work you have done while furlough is effectively a temporary unemployment benefit for the employee who can’t work

That’s not what you said though. You said because it was government funded it made no sense to call it tax.

As it happens, I kind of agree, but in a broader sense that would include public sector salaries too.

I have been quite fascinated by how people seem to believe that "keyworkers" are quite a small group. I think they tend to think of the people they see. So the staff at the supermarket say maybe they pay no tax for two years (as per OP's suggestion). What about the delivery drivers? Or the depo workers? Everyone invloved in production, farmers, pickers, herdsmen, salughter house workers. Without any of these people the supermarket staff have nothing to sell.

That's millions of people and we haven't even started on the NHS yet never mind all the other key industries.

A relative of mine has been working in a factory all through lockdown. The company temporarily stopped making their usual products when they were given an order for body bags. That work lasted 5 weeks, so for 5 weeks my relative was a key worker (she hates that term btw), but for the remaining time she wasn't, but was still working. So, OP you're suggesting she doesn't pay tax for 2 years because of 5 weeks of work? Really?

My daughter who works in banking and has worked all through recentlt discovered that she is a 'key worker'. Such a stupid idea would place the country into even more financial peril.

Although I am very grateful to them, most key workers' have just got on and done the jobs they are paid to do.

Those who have been furloughed have also contributed to society by staying at home and reducing spread of the virus. They have helped society too. We all have.

Most of us have contributed in different ways. We can't let people off paying tax if we ever want the country to thrive again economically.

Anyway, why do rewards have to be financial? What is wrong with genuine gratitude?

I just don’t agree with people jumping up and down about how they pay tax on their furlough payments as if they’re making a net contribution to the pot rather than taking from it.

You could say that about benefit claimants!

Can we stop the fetishising of key workers now? The list is MASSIVE and include bloody bankers! They had school places. Yes doctors and nurses deserve a bloody medal but plenty of teachers had a holiday on 100 percent pay, our local school had 10 kids in and very little home learning set. Yes some worked full time, but really it was a very mixed bag.

Widowed parent here, working 120 percent hours from home on 80 percent pay (compulsory Covid pay cuts) whilst trying to home school a 5 and 9 year old. I wasn't 'sat at home on furlough' 😡😡

The list is MASSIVE and include bloody bankers

So you;d have been happy for your normal monthly pay/pension not to have been paid into your bank account, and been unable to pay bills/buy things in shops?

The vast, vast, majority of workers are key workers. Nurses couldn't treat patients in ICU if their computers and computer controlled equipment didn't work because the IT technicians weren't working! Every "front line" worker is heavily reliant on back office support workers enabling them to do their job.

I agree that 'background' staff are just as important, and often forgotten about or dismissed. Also not every healthcare worked worked with covid, many of my friends have quite enjoyed a bit of down time before the inevitable ridiculousness of catching up on lost check ups and ops. That's when the NHS needs our continuing support, the focus on those on the 'frontline' is important as they've done a good job, but it will be forgotten soon and there won't be support for those non covid healthcare staff busy picking up the pieces. Basically everyone whatever their job has had a role, and those who have been furloughed are weren't exactly living it up either.

@Badbadbunny

I just don’t agree with people jumping up and down about how they pay tax on their furlough payments as if they’re making a net contribution to the pot rather than taking from it.

You could say that about benefit claimants!

True but I’ve never heard a benefits claimant jumping up and down claiming to be a tax payer! There’s nothing wrong with being furloughed or on benefits, I really do want to be clear that’s not what I’m saying because I’m worried it sounds like I think that

I really resent the idea of being 'just sat at home on 80% pay with less outgoings' - my job was in danger from the start of the pandemic, so I had that stress all the way through, and now I've lost my job! Yeah just peachy isn't it?!

@LaurieMarlow

I personally think it’s different because a salary is paid for work you have done while furlough is effectively a temporary unemployment benefit for the employee who can’t work

That’s not what you said though. You said because it was government funded it made no sense to call it tax.

As it happens, I kind of agree, but in a broader sense that would include public sector salaries too.

Sorry if I wasn’t clear initially. For me I can personally see a big difference where the money is a kind of benefit/grant rather than a salary payment for work done. I just don’t see how you can possibly be claiming any kind of ‘credit’ and claiming to be a tax payer for paying tax on money that you didn’t earn to start with (through no fault of your own, I’d like to clarify!) Even a public sector job involves working for the salary, same as any private sector job, so paying tax (even though it’s technically back to the govt) is really PAYING it in my book as opposed to just having it deducted from your grant. Hopefully I’ve explained myself better, but of course we don’t have to agree!

I actually don’t really see the point in taxing furlough payments-why not just make the payment slightly lower to start with? I guess it’s an accounting thing, as the furlough payments come from one pot and the tax goes back into another...who knows?!

I agree @blosstree, I also find the moaning about not everyone in the public sector by some as being distasteful seen as though so many have lost their livliehoods. I really hope you find something soon, those judging those who were furloughed as having a lovely time relaxing at home are ridiculously out of touch.

Not everyone getting a payrise that should read

Thanks @Staplemaple I hope so too

The list of key workers was enormous. It's actually quite surprising how many jobs are required to keep the country operating at a really basic level. There are those seen (nhs, emergency services, teachers, retail workers etc)but also DWP, hmrc, accountants, banking, utilities, it and broadband, warehouses etc etc. I'm sure there are loads I havent thought of! That would be a lot of revenue missed if all of them got a tax break.
My job is pretty non-essential....but its essential to me to pay the mortgage and bills!

I agree @Staplemaple . I've been on mat leave for most of lockdown so I've definitely experienced the relentless monotony, mercifully without the threat of job loss as I am a teacher.

My dad was furloughed and sank quite rapidly into depression, which he had not experienced anywhere near as bad since 2013. On top of that his workplace had redundancy consultations, and while he has survived the first round it may not be the last. My retired mum has been stuck in with my dad throughout all of this.

My FIL has been made redundant.

My sister has been in bits worrying about her small business.

My DH is in the police and will happily say he has had it the easiest. He's kept his routine, had time out of the home and no threat to his job. He wouldn't have changed places with anyone, regardless of the sunny days.

DH and I are keyworkers. I appreciate that ICU nurses and doctors might have had it tough but most keyworkers of my acquaintance working in the NHS, in teaching and civil service have had an easy time of it with workloads slashed and WFH.

All this hero stuff is bollocks tbh.

And don't get me started on the pay rises for dentists who didn't work through lockdown and teachers who were mainly at home throughout, not teaching.