it's daft to think parents with kids in private school have money to burn?

[Popgoestheweaselagain]

Just got asked by my school what would be the impact if they had to pay VAT, adding 20% to fees. My response was 'I'd try to keep my child in the school, but ....'. I think almost all parents would respond this way. Alarmed, did a quick google, and found this is Labour policy. Next time they come knocking at my door looking for my vote, I'll be telling them why they can't have it!

Now, I understand why some people are ideologically opposed to private schools, the unfariness etc. But when I hear this argument that goes something like 'Those people must have loads of money because they send their kids to private school' it kind of annoys me. Money is finite. If you've spent all your money on school fees, you obviously don't have it anymore!

Isn't the argument usually "Private education should be treated as a luxury, and should be VAT registered" ?

I’m not voting for that.

So? That's your choice. It's a luxury, not a right. Private schools are businesses and they should pay VAT.

Well, if you can afford to send your kids to private school by definition you have money to burn - it's a luxury after all.

I mean if this issue is more important to you than children going hungry and people being able to heat their homes whilst the top 1% get a tax cut then congrats, you are all the stereotypes of private school parents.

I think you'll struggle to find widespread sympathy for private school parents having to pay a tax that applies to most other things.

IMO most private schools should be stripped of charitable status. I don't know if the two are related.

I can't ever imagine earning enough money to feel I could justify paying school fees. So yes if your child goes to private I would always think those parents are loaded and do have an infinite pot. Probably unfair I know.

Of course you should be paying VAT on school fees. It makes no sense that it is exempt.

That makes me want to vote labour more!

I guess, if you can't afford it, your kids will have to join the rest of the paupers at state school.

And it's not about "having money to burn". Its about what should and shouldn't be exempt from taxes. Why should private schools have an exemption that lots of other essential things do not have?

Of course they should pay VAT. They are businesses, not charities.

Private schools are businesses and they should pay VAT.

Err, I hate to point this out - but businesses don't pay VAT - only private individuals do..

Education isn't a luxury. The ability to pay for it doesn't necessarily make it a luxury - after all, if a product is VAT zero rated, it doesn't matter if you pay 2quid for it in Asda or 10quid in Waitrose.

I don't understand why people want more children burdening the state system.

Who are you looking to sympathise with you here? Because I don't. You do have lots of spare income. You've chosen to spend it on that. You should be taxed for that choice.

I disagree with this and think it would be unfair.
Although, no one in my circles are or were privately educated so would make no difference to me.
Parents are still paying their tax to subsidise local schools but not using the place.
Government cant have it both ways.

And since when have we thought of education as a luxury and not a basic right. It is a luxury and should not be thought of that way.

I’m struggling to see why education is a ‘luxury’. Genuinely.

Op is probably taxed shedloads on her salary already.

Honestly people are just envious. Pure and simple.

@robertpaulson we are all taxed shedloads on our salary.

'Rich' people pay huge amounts of income tax. Some of this is for a place in state school that they don't use.

You get this argument every time from private school parents, as if they're doing the rest of us plebs some giant favour by not sending their kids to state school.

Judging by the talentless, inarticulate bunch of privately educated halfwits currently in government, I'd have more faith in state schools to be frank.

Well, I agree that you - and other private school parents - might have spent most of your disposable income on the school fees.

But it’s surely impossible to deny that you must have had loads of money (compared to the average family) in the first place for private schools to have even been a realistic option for your family.
Fees, uniform and so on for even the cheaper private schools all adds up to a heck of a lot of money and it’s financially out of reach for most families.

So compared to most families, you do have money to burn. You’re just choosing to burn it on school fees, which is a luxury choice given that there are many decent free schools throughout the U.K.

The more you earn, the more you pay tax. Not just in actual money, but the percentage of tax rises too,

Choosing an alternative to the state system is the luxury.

I'm not. Our household income is £150k plus. I think private schools are utterly immoral.

I'd have more faith in state schools to be frank. Then crack on and use the state schools without sneering at private schools.