To think that people who agree with VAT on private school fees but not on university fees, are hypocrites?

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If Labour add VAT to private school fees, they should also add VAT to university fees. Or no VAT on either. The principle and rule, should be the same.

Why is only private school education being platformed. I think we all know why.

That’s a fascinating read thanks!
I thought ‘luxury’ foods were taxed and only essentials weren’t ie bread, milk, veg etc.

So there’s something that could definitely do with being taxed and it might tackle the countries health issues.

I think a few posters on this thread are not in touch with reality for the majority of the population. It's quite laughable that they think their comments are doing anything to persuade people that VAT on private school fees wouldn't be a good idea.

If the higher earning people in my company leave their jobs, others will be given them. There are plenty of people who could be promoted in my company.

https://taxpolicy.org.uk/2024/05/09/private_school_vat_risk/

Here for the latest

@wombat15 - nice for your company. Are they as good though and will they make the company and by implication, the country via taxes as much money?

From my own experience, the thick toffs never last in business beyond their abilities. So this age old cliche that they are occupying all the best jobs I simply disagree with. Once upon a time they may have gotten them originally, but times have changed significantly in the last 20 years. Capitalism tends to be pretty efficient at weeding out those that are not up to the mark.

Our problem as a country is lack of talent in those who run the country and lack of business experience. The article I linked above, written by Dan Neidle. We need more people like him willing to stand as MPs. Sadly nobody wants to. It is not just the poor pay relative to other jobs. It is the constant harassment by press and the public hate. Most people simply cannot deal with that. And even if you get a rationale sort up there they are still being bullied into signing up to crazy policies like this VAT on private school business. I think I have heard it all now. Pretty much everyone with half a brain knows this policy is a MASSIVE DUD.

That’s great. Then those people will be the higher earners, paying more tax. Sending their children to private school (if they can afford it by then). Then they’ll get pissed off with Labour, and won’t vote for them. And so it goes on.

There are lots of people with less than half a brain .. Lots of bitter people too.

It’s really not as straightforward as some people seem to think. Different schools have different structures for pre payments. Some schools have a system where you make a lump sum payment into a “scheme”. The scheme is then billed termly going forwards. I can’t see how that can work for VAT purposes because an invoice is raised each term. Those schemes do, however, have the benefit of being separate from the school reserves so your capital is more protected in the event the school folds.

I think a lot of them are a lot better, particularly some of the older women. I am sure they would have done much better in their careers and be more highly paid if they were privately educated men. You are either very naive if you think the higher paid positions always go to the best people or you are one of those who have benefited from workplace inequalities.

I am not naive at all, but if you are not happy at work @wombat15 look for another job! Plenty out there for anyone dynamic these days. I have always demanded that I am paid my worth and am largely grammar school educated. I do not see what private school has to do with anything.

That assumes that the Tories would reverse the VAT policy and that it would sway everyone's vote which is highly unlikely. Not everyone even has school age children.

I am pissed off with Labour over this because how dare they waste valuable public resources over such a crockshit policy when we have far more urgent matters to get on with in this country. How dare they waste MP/HMRC time on any of this and how dare they mess with SEN kids and SEN schools by doing so.
So I am likely to vote LibDem to balance the madness out. And I am sure there will be plenty of rationale people in my shoes doing exactly that.

I am quite close to retirement age so not likely. You would argue that highly paid people are worth the money if you are one if them. In my 40 years of working in professional jobs, I know that is certainly not always the case though.

I'd start from "is it a good idea?" rather than "do people currently think it's a good idea?" I'm optimistic anyone can see the truth, which is it's not a good idea.

Nobody's asking for pity. Just common sense.

@wombat15 - like most people, I have had to move jobs multiple times and demand my worth to be highly paid. And I would still be doing that even if I were close to retirement age. If a company were to undervalue me, I would be off in a heart beat. To me, every single month counts.
So logically I would also conclude that private school parents would move their own DC into a good state school and change course. This is what dynamic people tend to do. I would know.

You would say that.

So @wombat15 - are you happy that the incoming Government may have to overhaul the entire VAT system just to get at private schools? Are you willing for that to happen and the resources to be thrown at it? And to deal with the consequences of a different VAT regime. That is what the tax experts are starting to hint at.

What's true is true, regardless of who says it or why.

VAT on schools is a bad idea because it won't raise much money, has significant risk of raising nil/negative money, will disrupt education, poses risks to employment and labour supply of teachers and higher earners, and is a massive distraction from better ways to raise £1.5bn or whatever, and also other ideas to improve education that aren't entirely about spending money.

You're right this argument is in our direct personal interest. That doesn't mean we're wrong or that we're not also concerned for broader interests.

What is incorrect is incorrect regardless of who say it too. I'm also a bit sceptical that anyone who is genuinely interested in the broader interests of the general population would have made 100s of very long posts about this specific issue in the last month while posting nothing about anything else.

You've told us you don't really care about this policy either way and it hasn't stopped you making 100s of posts.

Rather than slagging off my motives, I'd be happy to hear you engage in the substance per 11:32 above.

Since you mention it, I don't post on other things because I don't think I have much expertise to add on other things. Economics and education, however, I'm pretty good on.

You haven't posted on any other education or economics issue either though. Only ones relating to VAT on private schools and the posts are very long. My posts are usually only a sentence or two and I haven't made hundreds of posts on this specific topic at all. I haven't got the time to do that or read the long articles you link to. I look at who has written them though and can see that they are not going to be unbiased articles.

The LibDems currently and historically aren’t a viable solution in terms of getting into power though.
A LibDem vote might as well be a Labour vote.

That is because @MisterChips is talking about valid research on the topic
You however only talk of your opinion. We have as yet to see any research or facts supporting the policy in your posts.
Hence your posts are short.
Theres really nothing to say

Right. I've done a heap of research on this topic which is my area of expertise. You haven't / won't / can't and you've also said you don't really care, which is fair enough.

I don't think this puts you in a strong position (from your 100s of posts) to criticise me (for my 100s of posts). Can we return to the subject matter, and preferably engage constructively, starting by (if you want to share your opinion) doing some research including reading about both sides of the debate?

Here's another couple.

VAT on private school fees – Media Taylor
Labour’s VAT policy for private schools will hit every homeowner and bankrupt local councils – Media Taylor

What I'd ask is that you please read the analysis rather than pre-emptively declaring that the author is biased.