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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think 51% tax is ridiculous, and already to be planning to move to Asia

805 replies

hedgiemum · 22/04/2009 14:33

Namechanged. Married to someone who earns well in excess of £150,000 a year, though neither does he earn 7 figures.
He is still quite young in his career - a recent promotion to a senior position, but has not been earning this kind of money of long, so we still have a mortgage and haven't saved large amounts (what we have saved is through his pension which is no longer going to be particularly worth doing.)

He phoned me a minute after end of budget to say he'd watched it with his boss whose reaction was that he would move the company (not a bank, but in finance) to Asia. Probably Hong Kong - 12% tax rather than the 51% we'd be paying here.

Seems like a kneejerk reaction, and clearly we can afford to pay more, but boss doesn't feel he'll get good productivity from staff if they are getting to take home less than half their income. Plus it decreases ever-present risk of them being headhunted by companies in lower-tax economies.

AIBU to be PLEASED (I used to hate tax exiles.) Partly because it just does not seem fair. Partly because this country has been run so badly by New Labour of whom we had such high expectations, and the medical care we have received has been shite, the local schools are shite, the roads are insanely busy and yet is costs so much to live here.

OP posts:
morningpaper · 23/04/2009 09:30

My father moved to Spain to retire - because the uk is 'going to the dogs'. He lives in a compound surrounded by 20ft barbed wire fence. He has been violently burgled. His 'neighbours' trap sparrows and eat them. WHY? Because there is virtually no welfare state. He is surrounded by poverty.

People don't THINK

higgle · 23/04/2009 09:31

The 40% tax rate that kicks in at a salary of just over £40k doubles the rate of tax paid at the margin by people with really fairly modest incomes - especially if there is only one person in the household working. On this basis I don't think it unreasonable for those on much higher incomes to pay a bit more to help out. If you earn £150k pa you would take home £7800 pcm and if you borrowed 450k onyour mortgage you would have over £4k a month to live on, so as the op was enquiring about feeling reasonable about taxation on earning above this level I feel that yes, it is unreasonable to quibble about chiping in an extra 10% to help bail out the country and take the pressure off those who do not have sugh high levels of income.

LibrasJusticeLeagueofBiscuits · 23/04/2009 09:34

You know if I thought Labour actually had the balls to raise taxes I would have voted for them years ago. It's a pity they have had to do it in response rather than have the guts to do it and put the money to good use.

I don't resent high earners, I do think some jobs should earn more than others (not perhaps the ones that do but that's another argument). I just feel if you do earn a lot of money (and a lot is subjective) you just shouldn't be so tight fisted or mean not to want to contribute to the running of this country.

daftpunk · 23/04/2009 09:41

the more of this i read, the more i think the whole world should be communist.

smee · 23/04/2009 09:43

I think the break with old labour was a mostly cynical way to get re-elected. Then it spun into a panic, as they were too scared to upset the city. Now the credit crunch bizarrely has meant Labour can start heading back to being Socialists again, and I for one say here's hoping that's the case. And for those of you earning over £150,000 who don't want to pay any extra, well go have a nice life somewhere sunny. I'm sure you're all lovely people, but somehow we'll cope

morningpaper · 23/04/2009 09:45

I see a problem between the "We have no choice about moving" arugment and the claim that your DH is worth his salary because of his hard work etc. Surely his skills are VAGUELY transferable to another company?

goodnightmoon · 23/04/2009 09:45

i don't think the OP's premise is unreasonable. Few people, whatever their income, would choose to pay more tax. Or they would at least want the promise of tangible benefits.

There is a threshold where it feels like you are not working for yourself, but for the state.

I don't think that is an inherently greedy attitude.

Plus, I think it is worth keeping in mind that taxes aren't being raised to improve public services, but to fill an enormous gap from the government completely messing up the economy. And yes, I blame the government, not only the bankers. Government policies and "light touch" regulation played an enormous role in this crisis.

cory · 23/04/2009 09:46

having grown up in Sweden all this seems very familiar

I spent the first 30 years of my life listening to neighbours grumbling that the country was going to the dogs, that all the brain and initiative was moving out, that soon there would be noone with any earning potential left to pay the taxes and the welfare state would just collapse on itself, leaving us a third world country...

hasn't happened yet

reach4sky · 23/04/2009 09:46

Well of course it takes away the incentive.

smee · 23/04/2009 09:46

Hey MP was that you on AC's site? Most excellent pointed question on the Mental Health pricing. Hope you get a response.

morningpaper · 23/04/2009 09:47

Smee: I can't decide if it was a Good Question or a Dumb Question

FAQinglovely · 23/04/2009 09:48

"There is a threshold where it feels like you are not working for yourself, but for the state. "

reallly - I wouldn't feel like I was working for the state if I had several thousand pound a month to spend

Gmarksthespot · 23/04/2009 09:49

LibrasJusticeLeagueofBiscuits

I haven't changed my mind on what I am bitter about at all. I have no qualms with funds going to those less fortunate by no choice of their own. I don't even care about people who choose to receive benefits. I care that they have a shot at me for earning good money.

I am in Australia. The teachers, nurses, police etc here are well paid - as they should be. Overstretched and under-resourced but they are paid way over anything I earn.

goodnightmoon · 23/04/2009 09:50

cory - i think you are right that this is really just idle chatter, and most high earners really aren't going to move. not least because most other governments are also having to raise taxes, increase regulation and generally crack down on venue shopping.

smee · 23/04/2009 09:52

MP, it's most definitely a good question. He does the gloss so well. You got down to the nitty gritty of 'hey does it actually translate'. Bet you don't get a response.

LibrasJusticeLeagueofBiscuits · 23/04/2009 09:53

I am not too sure who is having a shot at you, people are just saying if you earn a good salary you shouldn't really begrudge paying some extra tax.

"I care that they have a shot at me for earning good money."

I didn't know you were in Australia, I have no idea about the tax system over there. If you are going to join a conversation about the british tax system it might be a good idea to flag the fact you are talking about the australian tax system.

FAQinglovely · 23/04/2009 09:53

Gmark - can I just say (as a benefit claimer) that I have no qualms with people earning humongous salaries - good for them. I just have a gripe with those that then moan that they have to pay more tax/are going to have a small (in comparison to their overall pay-packet) reduction in their spending powers

expatinscotland · 23/04/2009 09:53

Is each and every post directed at you construed as a personal affront, Cote? No one ever accused you of hiding anything? At least, I didn't.

Have a nice day!

What do you suggest as an alternative to tax, which you assume is rising all to fund the banking industries cockups?

And by your response to me, none of it is going towards the public services that keep society running.

Forgive me if I don't respond immediately, it appears the weather forecast for this part of the country is incorrect at present, giving me the opportunity to do more washing as I can peg it out.

morningpaper · 23/04/2009 09:58

smee: Nah, they are all banging on about some crap on the telly

BigBellasBeerBelly · 23/04/2009 10:02

I don't know why the opposing views on here surprise anyone really.

People who earn lots of money do so, in the main, because they are the sort of people who are driven by money. They want to earn more and more and more, and (IME) begrudge paying any tax whatsoever. Naturally they are going to go off the deep end if asked to pay more.

The OP cites some things about her DH's work to show how hard it is. Long hours, no time for doctor, no time for proper meal breaks. Oh diddums. That is what he is paid for. If he wanted less hours and more ability to have time off etc he could find a job easily that offered that. However it would probably not pay as much, so naturally that is not an option. Because money is the driving factor.

If you want a better work life balance etc then go and get a different job. One that maybe wouldn't be in the top tax bracket.

If you want the cash then shut up and pay up.

Your choice.

Docbunches · 23/04/2009 10:39

I've pretty much read the whole thread, but in answer to the OP, YABU.

My DP is fortunate to earn a very good salary working in IT (but no-where near £150K which is a huge salary by any standard), and would gladly pay more tax if asked, or indeed take a pay cut if he had to. I think a lot of people would, TBH.

sachertorte · 23/04/2009 10:50

OP, you say medical care is shite, local schools are shite, roads insanely busy... Some might say this is because of lack of investment in services BECAUSE PEOPLE DON´T WANT TO PAY HIGHER TAXES!

People in countries with higher taxes seem HAPPIER overall with the quality of life. It seems to me that you should be countuing your blessings atm as you´re in a very fortunate position compared to most. But it´s not enough? You´re still complaining?

samsonara · 23/04/2009 10:51

yanbu, anyone earning a bit below that threshold will have paid lots of tax anyway, so 51% above £150,OO0, is high imo,becaue if you earn say !160K, you've lost 5K of that extra 10k earnt so not worth it, if however you earn more than 200k, then you still get to keep a decent amount after the extra tax, but you are either living a luxury life and need to fund it of are running a business which is cutting your profits now.

samsonara · 23/04/2009 10:52

sachertorte, the majority who need the healthcare can't pay enough taxes, those in the higher bracket, pay the taxes and can pay to go privately anyway, if they choose too.

debs40 · 23/04/2009 10:55

OP - bye bye then!