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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think a flat tax of 25% for all on everything would be much fairer?

318 replies

peapodlovescuddles · 22/04/2009 16:24

51% is ridiculous. People shouldn't be penalised for working hard their entire life (and I know this will be controversial) and being much better than average at what they doI know the economy is in trouble but surely alienating the richest portion of society is a stupid idea?
£150,000 isn't a ridiculous salary, there are plenty of middle class professionals who aren't living a lavish lifestyle earning that much.

OP posts:
Ledodgy · 22/04/2009 16:27

YABVFU

Peachy · 22/04/2009 16:28

It's only on amounts over £150,000. Not on all of it.

If you're on minmum wage 25% of that would be placing you on a starvation bracket; on over £150,000 you will, at leat, eat.

And yes it is controversial.... people work hard on all income levels but some are able to earn more for very many reasons (ability is one of course)

Should dh be taxed the same on his £25000 when he has to support me because I am a carer I wonder?

LauriefairycakeeatsCupid · 22/04/2009 16:28

it's the top 1% in the world

how small would your world have to be to think that it is a normal salary

YABVU

jellybeans · 22/04/2009 16:30

Yeah but the rewards are not always fair or paid for hard work. Eg footballers paid millions. It's not always someone's fault for being poor, or a choice, what chance have some people got born into an 'underclass' family? What about the people who cannot work. Wealth has to be redistributed. The rich have plenty left.

madeindevon2 · 22/04/2009 16:34

these kind of "weath should be distributed" comments make me angry,
should i work long hours in the city to try and create a better life for myself and my family? or just to support those who sit at home claiming benefits!?

Peachy · 22/04/2009 16:34
Peachy · 22/04/2009 16:35

What like me madeindevon with my lovely claimant lifestyle?

With 2 autistic kids tocare for?

Fuck off with your judgements matey

Ledodgy · 22/04/2009 16:37

How are people not understanding that High wages do not automatically equate to hard work?

madeindevon2 · 22/04/2009 16:37

how very pleasant!

Ledodgy · 22/04/2009 16:37

and well said Peachy!

dollius · 22/04/2009 16:39

"these kind of "weath should be distributed" comments make me angry,
should i work long hours in the city to try and create a better life for myself and my family? or just to support those who sit at home claiming benefits!?"

Which just goes to show that it doesn't take much brainpower to work in the City, does it?

We're all part of society, madeindevon. Without society, there wouldn't be a City for you to work in.

Anyone who can't spare 50% of whatever they earn over £150,000 needs some urgent lessons in budgeting.

YABVU

Peachy · 22/04/2009 16:40

Well Madein maybe exhaustion has compromised my manners but in 8 years thats the first time I swore at anyone on here, I meant it though.

Some of us work right around the clock in jobs not in our choosing becuase we HAVE to and receive a pittance for it.

Jusge people who choose not to work by all means but remember that thre world is made of many life outcomes. I am not lazy- just signed up for an intro to a PGCE so think not- but get very and at peoples comments that imply I am

madeindevon2 · 22/04/2009 16:44

i dont know who assume i earned anywhere close to 150k? jsut because i work in city and long hours!? you know nothing of me .
ths rudeness is pathetic and uncalled for.
lots of assuming going on here. and very irrational comments.
waste of time this post.

Original poster
peapodlovescuddles · 22/04/2009 16:48

But why shouldn't people all give away THE SAME % of their earnings? Just because DH earns more than most why should he lose proportionally more of his income? he shouldn't he'd still be paying over £100,000 in tax if he paid 25%.

OP posts:
jellybeans · 22/04/2009 16:49

MadeinDevon That's what's wrong with our society, selfishness, me me me. Not everyone can work or have access to a well paid job. Some people NEED benefits, they are not all lazy feckers as the DM wants us to think. Our greedy capitalist society thrives/profits on unpaid workers and carers and on unfairness. Would you rather people who can't earn starve? Do you not think you should contribute to society/others? Yes some are dependent on the state but that often comes down to the state letting them down in the first place. Not everyone has a chance of a well paid job.

mumof2andabit · 22/04/2009 16:49

Dh leaves for work before 8 he gets back normally just after. It is no where near £150,000 does that mean he works any less hard than people who earn more? It does seem a ridiculously high % but then so is all tax and if you are earning that much then you can afford it, if you are earning £20,000 a year why should your tax be the same?

tiredemma · 22/04/2009 16:51

Do only 'high earners' work hard then?????

What about Nurses? Teachers??

wonderingwondering · 22/04/2009 16:52

Because low earners and families on low incomes would be hit proportionately much harder. They deserve greater support, hence tax credits. Their marginal rate of tax is much lower, so they can actually attain a reasonable standard of living.

wonderingwondering · 22/04/2009 16:53

sorry ,that last comment was in response to peapods.

OrmIrian · 22/04/2009 16:54

"But why shouldn't people all give away THE SAME % of their earnings?"

Because 25% of 12k isn't much to the taxman but it's a great deal to the the earner. Try living on what is left

Peachy · 22/04/2009 16:55

Dh has 2 jobs so I imagine he works as hard as anyone. When he puts down the work he helps me out with the boys.We get one night off a year in November.

I'd happily pay my taxes at the applicable rate and indeed always did pay my taxes when I worked without quibble. And I will again, precisely because there has to be enough in the pot to pay for carers and those who society needs to claim benefits. Foster care or any other option would cost far more.

People can't all pay the same rate because many people would be left without enough to get by, and therefore the tax burden would increase, and more taxes have to be raised..... it would go on and on. Rents and food don't cost less for the low paid, it just becomes harder to find.

mumof2andabit · 22/04/2009 16:58

Maybe I have been poor not rich for too long, but if I could provide for my family, give them everything they need a few things they want and have money left to store in the bank then I wouldn't quibble over the great amount that was left over.

Yes its a pita that you work you earn and you give a load back by why is everyone so obsessed by having so much?

JemL · 22/04/2009 16:59

Earning more doesn't make you "better than the average" It is just unfortunate that some jobs are more highly renumerated than others - and it isn't at all a reflection of the importance of the job, or the value placed on it by society as a whole. Neither is earning a big salary a reflection of the individual talents and intelligence of a particular individual.

I work in fundraising - a profession which means I am unlikely to earn anywhere near £100k, let alone £150k. This doesn't mean I am "below average" at my job.

Someone who earns £15k is a fuck of a lot better off than most of us 51% tax or not!

pavlovthepregnantcat · 22/04/2009 17:00

'there are plenty of middle class professionals who aren't living a lavish lifestyle earning that much' - who? Apart from those who max themselves out with an enormous mortgage on a house they don't need? Or those who chose to save it? Or those who have enormous debts?

I completely disagree that someone with an income of for example £20k should have to pay 25% tax, leaving not much left (esp after NI/Pensions), so that someone who earns considerably more does not have to feel picked by having to pay 51% on income over £150k.

Even with this new tax, those earning more than £150k will still be earning significantly more money than those on low incomes, so its not like they will not be able to eat or have a roof over their heads.

MIFLAW · 22/04/2009 17:01

OP

Not unreasonable per se.

Just revealing yourself as having a fundamental lack of understanding around taxation and, indeed, basic arithmetic.

Myself, I'd rather be unreasonable, but each to their own.