AIBU to reconsider a long friendship over support for education tax?

[CoconutRumcake]

A close friend of over 15 years last night unashamedly said she supported the children’s education tax. To put this in context, she is godmother to my ds and has seen first hand what damage this has done to children and families as well as her own sister losing her job when the school closed. She had maybe drank too much and has apologised over text this morning, but I really can’t shake the feeling that I don’t want to be around her.
AIBU -try and move past it
YANBU -it’s run it’s time

Literally, the government sold the entire student tuition loan idea by referring to it as a GRADUATE TAX.

Perhaps your friend doesn't agree with you because your argument is nonsense and full of factual holes.

Nope, the school now pays VAT and passes on that cost to the parent. That’s their choice.

Then their business model didn’t work.

Sums it up nicely.

@AnswerIsNo
Do you support VAT on private healthcare in that case?

What a feisty discussion this is. Here's some more fuel for the fire 🔥 As background, I am state educated (leafy suburb). My DC was state educated until 16 (leafy suburb) then went to an independent school on a scholarship for sixth form. I am a lifelong Labour voter from a Conservative background. My voting choice is driven by intellect but many of my instincts are those of a one-nation Conservative.

1. Independent school fees have risen exponentially over the last 20 years. This means that many middle class families who would have been able to afford the fees then are now priced out. The outcry from some quarters about the Labour government's imposition of VAT on school fees is rarely set in context. The reality is that the introduction of VAT in January 2025 is merely the latest increase in a two-decade long series of increases.

1. Most parents (I exclude those with SEN DC) unable to swallow an additional c.20% on fees were deluding themselves when they opted to send their DC to an independent school. Costs never go down. They rarely stay the same. Increases should be expected. It's bad budgeting not to build in wriggle room.

1. I support the existence of independent schools because I value people being able to choose how to spend their money and I value aspiration. I also think that parents opting for independent school for their DC have a duty to explain to their DC that they are privileged and the reasons for their choice. If they don't do that, they risk launching entitled 18-year olds into the world, who think that only they were born to lead and that the corridors of state schools are filled with feral tearaways.

1. The Labour government did not fully think through the unintended consequences of its decision to impose VAT on fees: loss of jobs, impact on surrounding businesses, disruption to children's education. It should have done, not least to lessen the suspicion that the decision was motivated by spite.

1. I expected disapproval from some of my friends at my choice to pay for my DC's sixth form. There has been some. I have defended my choice, confident in the reasons for it, at the same time as acknowledging inconsistencies I my thinking. We are still friends.

The OP at 12.46 says:

We pay circa £90k income tax annually to help fund schooling

So the OP pays £90,000 according to her post in this thread.

And yes, VAT should be paid on private medical care and I say that as someone who has used it in the past.

Omitted the word private? Is it not completely obvious that there is not a 20% on education you don’t pay for? Even if there was one, which I would put past these whacky characters running the country it would work out as zero.

I don’t expect a discount, I don’t expect anyone to pay tax on children’s education. Educating children should be encouraged not discouraged.

If you paid VAT on private medical it would discourage people from using it. Do we want to discourage people from using it?

Sadly I think your knowledge is too poor to talk, let alone blame someone else. What you’ve said here is utter nonsense.

No one pays VAT on profit, and private schools previously paid VAT on nothing. PRIVATE schools (not all schools or ‘education’) now have to pay VAT on their INCOME. I.e. FEES. What these very business-minded private schools have done is - instead of paying it from their coffers - passed it on directly to the parents. The Govt never asked for this. It is NOT an education tax. It is a tax on PRIVATE schools which are a business - and which customers like you are now paying.

Your friend might have an opinion different to your’s but before you claim to be the clever and correct one - you need to fix your knowledge (and grammar).

@CoconutRumcake

I've got a trick you can use to not pay the tax.

Put your children in state school.

Hope that helps

Can’t be arsed with this any more. You opted to educate your children privately, despite having the option of a free state education. That’s a choice - it’s a service and as such attracts VAT. The school have chosen to pass on the cost of that to the fee paying parents, as is their right. I think your anger is misplaced.

I think there is a very good argument that yes, we do. If everyone had to wait in line for the NHS, maybe people would vote for a party that would actually in it (even if that means raising / diverting taxes).

Some countries do see the benefit of more people taking the strain off state sector but Labour do the opposite. It’s not improved state but closed some schools down in private. That’s about it.

Yes they are, but nice for people to have a broad range of educational choices that suit their children.

You’ve edited out the fact this only applies to private schools again.

boo hoo, reaches for tiny violin. You'll be fine. Miranda will come round and you can enjoy a Spa experience together.

must admit I do find responses on this subject pretty gleeful and spiteful towards parents who have to now pull their children and send to state schools. It’s fine to state you agree with the tax, but really not fine to get joy out of someone being upset.

This. Agree.

And there's still a broad range of choices. You just have to pay some tax on some of them.

This comment proves my point….

Yep. Why so spiteful.

because it's pathetic. Why should people have private education anyway?

it's not a legal requirement to use a private school . The schools have to make their model work. I'm amazed these schools are so badly run they cannot manage their costs within the normal business model. Do they not teach arithmetic at these schools ? Try to think positively this might be what the schools need to wake them up.

Sorry, should say ‘fix it’.