Tax increases imminent

[Iwishicouldflyhigh]

Heavy hints that taxes will rise in the next Budget after the recent climb down (as the ‘taxes won’t rise again’ was based on a 5 billion saving in benefits).

I can’t lie, I’m so pissed off about this. I don’t think anyone wants to see someone who is genuinely unable to work to be further penalised, but we all know there are thousands of people who could work but don’t.

this country is going to absolute shit . We pay more and more for less and less.

100% agree. Just read a book called The Nordic Theory of Everything and I’m pro high tax. Go back to collective looking after each other, not this 80s Thatcher individualistic bullshit. That’s what ruined this country.

This is rubbish.
Only 5 countries in Europe have a higher income tax rate than we do.

See earlier post with the IFS analysis.

I really don't get why people think that a modest charge for seeing the GP would solve anything.

The lonely pensioner who doesn't get out much would probably pay it- what else are they spending their money on?

The hypochondriac would pay it. They have a mild delusion (or possibly a major delusion), not a cashflow problem.

The person who feels their issue isn't being fixed but they won't do the physio or whatever, has now been 5 times and paid £100 so is even more keen that the GP sort the issue for them.

I would currently never miss a GPs appointment, but if they got a cancellation fee I might feel I could if I had other pressing commitments. They get the money after all, whether I turn up or not.

Meanwhile the type of people who don't go to the GP anyway, now have another reason not to go, and an issue that would cost the NHS £500 is now an operation and a spell in intensive care costing £10,000.

The definition of disability applies mainly to PIP, which assesses the cost of disability - it’s not out of work support. The support for extra cost of disability is varied - it can be something as simple as an aid or appliance to help with cooking or bathing, to extra costs in gas/electricity because of incontinence requiring constant bathing and increased laundry. Generally PIP uses different activities to assess difficulty due to disability and the way things stand, it’s not the disability that counts, but the effect on everyday life. I think a change to the way disability is defined and the reintroduction of the need for formal diagnosis where possible, would allow for changes to the PIP descriptors so that very low level disability is excluded from eligibility and more emphasis is given to significant disability for which cost can be quantified.

I disagree on means tested state pension - that has been paid into for decades

What stops them from claiming national insurance credits where they’re eligible, or the husbands who want them to be full time mums making proper pension provision for them.

Yep...and there are (or certainly were) various additional triggers around where your centre of interest was deemed to be, it wasn't just a case of days out of the UK

Leaving aside the special case non-doms most lesser normal mortals didn't used to be able to simply upsticks as an individual, move off shore, pay no UK Tax but leave family back in the UK family home, using the NHS, state schools etc...

This is all very well, but pensioners can’t go back in time and change what they did. We could change things for 30 years in the future for when we retire, but grossly unreasonable to expect people who are already in receipt of state pensions to get less.

The IFS compare tax income relative to GDP as it is a more accurate measure. Even if you just look at the tax rates, you are still mistaken. The major countries are higher than the UK. Spain, Germany, France, Sweden, Portugal etc.

Unless you think Greece is a better comparison?

So you think that those who work for 50 years, save and pay NI for all that time should give up their state pensions for those who couldn’t be bothered? Great idea. Then there will be no incentive to keep working. Then the country will collapse. Very quickly

Not suggesting state pension should be means tested at all - sorry should have made that clear.

What’s the blended rate that the average Joe pays vs the very top bracket?

That’s the problem. Means testing the state pension creates a two tier system and penalises those who have made provision for themselves while the feckless can rely on the state.

Agree

The Norwegian oil fund when set up - is a great example of what a sensible, compassionate government does. I get that not every country has oil - but their fund significantly supports their welfare state and their people still benefit now.

Can you even imagine the UK Government doing this?!

I do wonder how many of those advocating for tax increases are actually net tax contributors.

I'm pissed off too. I wonder how much could be saved if the pension triple lock was abolished?

Probably not many. It is easy to spend other people money. Especially when you're spending it on yourself.

The issue seems to be that the Uk taxes median earners far too little. We need a more equitable system across all income levels which smooths out the cliff edges to increase productivity
https://ifs.org.uk/taxlab/taxlab-key-questions/how-do-uk-tax-revenues-compare-internationally

I don’t think state pension should be means tested either but it’s not something you ‘pay into’. Nor is it guaranteed. Generally NI isn’t ring fenced for anything and state pension in payment now is largely funded by those currently in work. Given that there are not enough people currently working to fund current generations of pensioners something will have to give.

Yes - you've finally got it. More people need to work!!

Haven't read further than this so apologies if this point has been made but we can't charge children for accessing the NHS. As horrible as it is to say there are many parents who would rather spend £5 on fags or booze or getting their nails done and would rather their children suffered in pain. This could lead to treatment being delayed which would cost more in the long run.

I am not against adults paying but I think there needs to be more education about when to contact the NHS and when to treat things at home.

But that’s exactly how it’s been sold to the British public for decades. For example - my sister recently had a reminder to ‘top up’ for the time she had missing years so she had full years for her pension - so yes (some) people are paying into it.