To actually not mind paying tax?

[Squareplate]

I'm sick of hearing about how Labour will increase tax (they will, they'll have to, after the mess they've been handed) at the same time as demanding better services.

I quite like what Clement Attlee said
"Charity is a cold grey loveless thing. If a rich man wants to help the poor, he should pay his taxes gladly, not dole out money at a whim"

And yet I know loads of people who do great work for charity at the same time as doing whatever they can to hide their money from the tax man. They'll say taxes are wasted or there's corruption etc, but that happens in the charity sector too.

FWIW, I'm a higher rate taxpayer and my parents estate will likely be subject to significant inheritance tax, but I still think that's right and fair.

I don't understand why paying your taxes isn't seen as a social duty.

I also think there is a feeling that we are literally paying into a black hole. The average nursing home place costs more than £1k a week. SEN specialist educational facilities can charge in excess of £100k per year per pupil. OP's contribution as a high rate tax payer is not even getting close to funding either of these things, let alone paying for anything else. Very few of us are net contributors and we have a lot of very very expensive health, care and educational bills. Something has to give somewhere but it's obvious why the majority won't see improvement in the services they receive when there are so many very expensive bills to cover.

I have no issue with paying taxes. However we need huge benefits reform. I resent paying taxes to pay benefits to people who choose not to work (not those who cannot) and people who exploit the benefits system.

Dh top rate tax payer and has no problem paying tax at all, the only one he does have a problem with is inheritance tax.. he's already paid his taxes on his earnings so why should he have to pay again?

How is he 'paying again'? You don't pay tax when you're dead! The recipient should pay tax on their windfall.

When I pay my hairdresser, she still pays tax, even though I've already been taxed on that money.

The tax applies to the person receiving the money, not the money itself.

I am happy to pay taxes, but I am not happy with currently paying a 60% tax rate (more if you consider lost childcare) and being excluded from some of the standard benefits that my payment funds - i.e., in this case, tax-free childcare and funded childcare hours. As a result of being excluded from these, but not earning such vast sums above the threshold, I am pushed to fund my pension instead. Losing the public purse 40% of that income. I'm not sure how that is fiscally sensible at all.

FWIW, I think most people are generally pretty comfortable paying taxes in return for a civilised society but there is a tipping point. Doesn't the Laffer Curve suggest taxes over 50% begin to reduce the taxation income (suggesting maybe 50% tax is the tipping point for most) - I'm no economist so not sure!

The public services are shocking currently too, which means people feel they are paying in and not getting decent services in return. You can see this in the poor state of healthcare in the UK, underfunded school system, road potholes not fixed for several months, councils cutting services they provide but increasing council tax at the same time. It's not surprising people are feeling negative about paying (possibly) more tax.

Because in the real world when more than half the population are net takers and less than half are paying for everyone else, it becomes a vicious cycle.

You can’t have an ever increasing amount of tax, and ever increasing amount of people who only take from the system on a net basis and a reducing number of net contributors.

Well…. you can, if you think Venezuela has a good economic model.

I pay more than six figures in tax and see next to nothing for it. I agree with paying tax but won't stay in the uk to have my income taxed at more than 45%.

Is it just me who finds this stealth boasting and virtue signalling wearisome?

More than 6 figures? I doubt it. Not unless you're a billionaire.

That's not correct. You'd pay more than 100k (six figures) on a salary of less than £300k

YABU, but I know people like being robbed, so also YANBU. If you want to pay more money than what's already been taken off of you, you're welcome to pay a special cash gift to the HMRC.

I don't mind paying tax for a fairer society and better public services.

I do mind the way the tax burden sits more and more on the shoulders of a diminishing number of contributors, it's both unsustainable and unfair. I object to paying tax to fund other people's lifestyle (not those in genuine need of support).

My marginal tax rate in Scotland is 69.5%, it makes striving for better pay pointless.

I doubt it

I can’t say the thought of higher tax is all that. If others are keener maybe they can voluntarily pay more

If I see the changes of where my tax is going to, I'm more than happy to pay it.

Contrary to popular mumsnet belief not everyone on here who says they earn more than average is lying to get the validation of being told they are a liar on mumsnet.

You don't need to be a billionaire to pay six figures in tax. You need to be highly paid and living in the UK.

You may not believe that any woman could reach those giddy heights. That's your issue not mine.

This is exactly my position. I cannot afford to pay more tax. I am a lone parent, yet people on the same household income as me with two working parents are paying 20% tax each, while im paying higher rate and UC for other people! Childcare is expensive, housing is expensive, life is expensive. The whole tax system is a shambles.

I've always felt like this. Honestly I was so proud the very first time I paid tax. My DH is a higher rate payer and we don't resent a penny. Paying tax is the price of living in a civilised society where nobody is left behind (idealised version obviously but that's the dream).

I do however feel for people caught in weird tax cliff edges where they end up paying huge percentages, particularly when they live in places where housing and childcare are mega expensive.

IHT is a voluntary tax it’s pretty easy to manage your way out of paying it if you’re motivated. Also with house and kids if married your allowance in second death is £1m which is quite generous.

Not one of the saintly tax paying lovers both higher rate tax payers it’s your moral duty but no don’t love it. Frankly used to piss me off when our old neighbours who were young able bodied wasters just hung about on benefits while we toiled away to pay for it.

Why don’t people like OP pay more tax voluntarily. Who is stopping them? HMRC is more than happy for you to do that.

Yeah but, no but, yeah but…..

Yes, my Dad is constantly worrying over it looking at schemes to avoid it. I've told him either spend it or if there's that much money, tax should be paid on it.

As they’d rather tell mumsnet how much they pay and apparently love it

You didn't say 6 figures - you said MORE than 6 figures

Surely anyone in a high paying job understands that more than 6 figures is at least 7 figures?

So you're claiming that you are paying millions in tax?

I pay enough and get zero benefit as a single childfree person. If I was to fall on hard times e.g. lost my job (which has happened when I was made redundant) there was no fall back no JSA as it was called.back then I didn't qualify. Could of lost my home I spent 10yrs saving up to get. If I was homeless.id be on the bottom of the list for any help. I took a huge pay to secure a job to keep money coming in to keep my house.

The money I earn now finally allows me to save, knowing there is fuck all help if I end up jobless I've finally saved enough to cover me for 6 months but labour anyone with savings as being wealthy. I am now saving up for care home fees as I won't have anyone to rely on again those savings will have me seen as being wealthy. It's not me being wealthy it's me being able to provide for myself and not relying on other ppl to fund me.

IHT is most definitely not voluntary!! I wish it was!

There's no way to manage your way out of paying above the threshold.