Council tax is a c**t

[Upholstery]

What kind of a tax doesn't take account of how much money you have? It's all just a bloody con.

If you earn under the threshold of course you don’t. Do you want the threshold to not exist?

No. Obviously.

Rather than repeating, why not explain ?

Let's take my friend. She has secondary progressive MS and after working from the age of 16 she couldn't walk from the age of 23 and has been unable to work since the age of 26 - over 30 years ago. Nobody wants somebody who is partially sighted, can't walk and needs assistance to use the bathroom working for them.

Currently she receives ESA, and highest rate PIP. That's all.

How would taxing her benefits work ? Let's say she gets £x a year. What does making her pay 20% of that (so she receives £0.8x a year help anyone ?

This is a real world example.

It isn’t the same 🤦‍♀️

If your tax code is the regular 1257 any income or benefits above should be taxed.

I think as ever at the moment the ageing population is costing. Pensions and care for those who need it.

We also need to really and I mean really look at why so many children now have Sen. Is it because of advances in medical science meaning we are saving more babies, is it partly due to something we are consuming.

We shouldn’t need to be paying in some cases 100k a year for one child to get an education. We should just have more small schools that can cope with needs rather than having to send children on £100 a day taxi trips.

If both of those issues were resolved our councils would be rolling in cash. But nobody wants to actually look into and deal with either. One is the biggest set of voters and the other is disabled / Sen people. Who’s really going to tackle that. No politician let’s face it.

If you are a good friend, you can help her out.

I don’t understand why you think universal benefits should be taxed. Do you think working parents who claim the benefit of free childcare should then be taxed on it?

Why not. Equal tax at the 1257 threshold.

What do you do for a living? Just curious.

So no answer then ? Because you didn't really think it through and now look silly because you can't just say "I repeat benefits need to be taxed".

What I suspect you mean - and I am more than happy to put words in your mouth when they fail you - is that people who receive a benefit like PIP should have it added to their earnings (but as you have discovered, not every PIP claimant is earning) and that should be taxed. Presumably preventing the free car, 4 times annual holiday to Marbella and plasma TV.

I'd argue that they made the service Band A only when they'd already decided they wanted to cut it. See also complaints from David Cameron about 'pointy elbowed middle classes' right before destroying Sure Start. It's a feature, not a bug.

PAYE and council tax payer.

But they’ll never be over the threshold because the only reason they get pension credit is because they have no other income, and it’s under £12k a year.

Non-means tested benefits are taxable - state pension, Job seeker’s, ESA, Incapacity Benefit, Carer’s Allowance, Bereavement Allowance are all taxable. I have no idea why UC, PIP, Attendance Allowance aren’t taxable when other similar benefits are.

@PistachioTiramisu thank you for that information. It's an utter nightmare, isn't it. Did you appeal to the LA? Got to be worth a go!

Those on pension credit get freebies. Those freebies would push them over the threshold so if that is the case they should be taxed or alternatively do without the freebies.

As am I and I no longer work. Retired early. Can I ask why you are so angry at people who receive benefits?

Im band A. Our house cost 270,000 and I have never had any of these services. Dont think my area does at all! Definitely no free meals. There are no council houses in this town, some people rent but most own.

I am saying that everyone should be taxed if over the threshold.

That doesn't answer the question.

But I am very pleased for you. (I guess someone has to be).

What is your job?

The point isn't what someone's job is but that no one should be exempt.

Oh my goodness! Maybe stop repeating yourself, you’re sounding ridiculous.

I have no idea why UC, PIP, Attendance Allowance aren’t taxable when other similar benefits are.

PIP (can't speak to the others) is intended to help a person with the extra cost their disabilities incur in their daily life. For example the extra washing, or transport costs for bedridden persons. Taxing that would be like taxing air or water - the things needed for life - which generally has been felt iniquitous.

What’s this to do with council tax?

Have gone off subject. Original point was poll tax would be the best option.