Allow a play date where mum unapologetically supports children’s education tax

[GigglyOrange]

Just this really, our local independent prep school closed due to the education tax earlier this year and has caused absolute chaos for lots of families, including my own. My dd (6) has been invited for a play date with a girl she seems very friendly with and who seems very sweet, but I’ve since found out from another parent that the mum is an ‘unapologetic education taxer’. My instinct is to cancel the play date, AIBU?

I had a look. And see what it says:

"Education provided for no charge
If the education is being provided for no charge (for example, local authority maintained schools, city technology colleges, sixth form colleges, academies and free schools, see paragraph 3.2). The VAT consequences are that this is not ‘in business’ for VAT purposes (see section 3) and:

• the education provided is outside the scope of VAT
• any closely related goods or services provided, at or below cost, are outside the scope of VAT
• the sales of other goods or services are taxed in the normal way"

So if you don't want to pay VAT on education. use State Schools.

It is a VAT on Businesses. Not on education.

What types of people? You mean people who think the few who choose to send their kids to private school shouldn't be subsidized by removing the need to pay VAT???

Those horrible types of people?

You demonstrate otherwise, read the link I posted provided by the Government. It is not a tax on a business.

Of course I think YABU, but with the caveat that if somehow your daughter is made to feel uncomfortable in their home because of her having recently been attending the private prep, then I would think the other parent equally stuck on their political viewpoint and they too would BU. Hopefully though they will be welcoming and friendly with her and there will be no subtext to it.

Different people have different views. It shouldn't stop their kids playing together.

Ha ha!

This had to be a joke.

She holds the majority point of view, you have the unusual opinion here - that somehow there should be tax breaks on this one luxury service, but on others.

How utterly selfish you would be to cancel the playdate.

Playdates are about your child and your child's friendships.

It's not all about you 🙄

Well exactly, also I would imagine that alcohol abuse/smoking would be likely in the home.

A funny thing is, in films about posh boarding schools in the 50s and 60s, they were often shown as quite spartan. Now, from what I have heard, private boarding schools are very comfortable, as described in Malory Towers. There’s also this line in the 1985 film Clockwise:

”We’re hoping the new solarium will give our sixth form a bit more appeal at the top end of the market.”

That's so funny, now we know this is a wind up!

This has to be a joke thread, right? Surely no one actually equates being pro VAT on private schools with being an abusive alcoholic?

They are just children that want to be friends. I have never heard of a parent being so weird. As someone else said sounds exactly like that Catherine Tate character.

Why?

That is a funny thing, thank you so much for sharing.

Well this has taken a turn, hasn’t it? 🤣🤣🤣

Two highly taxed activities.

You are absolutely ridiculous.

I wish I could like- how great to find someone else in the same position over this travesty. Maybe you also share my thoughts on the repeal of the Corn Laws?

I support it and I’ve been a parent with children in private education for 21 years. I don’t support how it was introduced overnight rather than an incremental change over perhaps 2 years, to give parents whose children were close to exams a chance to either move or cope, but of course it’s a luxury for which VAT is appropriate.
If we have to pay tax on chocolate hobnobs (personal fave) then we should pay tax on private education.

This is one of the craziest things I’ve read on here.

I wouldn't want to go because I wouldn't be able to respect her.

😂

I hate to break it to you, but you aren't very good at this.

Someone here is quite unstable, it's not the other woman.

I’ve always heard those against the tax are crack smoking sex workers who abuse animals. I wouldn’t have let my child go on a play date at a house like that.