to think that people who threaten to leave the country because they resent paying more taxes should just bugger off without trying to elicit sympathy form the rest of us?

[AllFallDown]

Oh and, many of those on high salaries earn that much either directly or indirectly because of the deregulation that caused this whole bloody mess in the first place. So to hear them moaning now they're aksed to pay a bit back ... Grrrr.

Gmarksthespot ... Why is it nasty? This isn't class emnvy. don't begrudge people earning money at all: as I say, I earn a very good salary. I object to people who tell the world that paying more tax is so unfair that they will leave the country, and they expect sympathy for it. I have none. The state has done plenty for me; I am happy to do my bit for the state in return. Those who think the state does nothing for them are safly misguided.

Well I agree with that sentiment Allfalldown. I personally would never complain about it. I am however more interested in what works best for the country's finances and I'm not convinced that this 50% tax rate will help much.

And what do you think would happen to the economy if they left? serious question.

Because if the high earners all left the country they would also be taking with them a large part of the country's income.

And who do you think would be left to pick up the bill then?

Would you be happy for your tax to increase to get rid of high earners?

I have only one thing to say to such people.

'Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out.'

Have they not read the countless threads we have had lately where either the OP or their DP is facing redundancy, and possibly the loss of their home? Those people deserve my sympathy.

DH's job is very secure (I'm self employed) and I am very grateful. And I don't begrudge a penny of tax that we pay.

All my life (35yrs) I have been told that the best people have to get paid well so that UK remains competitive. Where has that theory got us? Next year our national debt will be 79% of our GDP.

Very few people are irreplaceable (can only really think of doctors TBH), most underlings could do their bosses job with their eyes closed.

If you don't like the tax regime here bugger off somewhere else. They might find that this is a global recession.

here here OP!

nice one crackfox

'Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out.'

It won't. My MD is thining of closing hte company. He is taking his family, his capital and his expertese abroad and leaving 20 redundant workers behind.
Hurray for the Red Flag.

and I don't see people asking for sympathy.

But if high earners start to leave the country (and they will IMO) and relocate their companies to countries where taxes are not so high (and some will do that as well imo) it will impact everyone. Because there will be job losses further down the line and taxes for everyone will have to increase to make up the shortfall. Because it won't just be that additional 10% (£2 bn is it?) they will be taking with them, but the tax/NI they are already contributing.

But begrudge people all you like.

YANBU
they can bugger right off and try not to let the door smack them in their ginormous overfed arses on the way out.

There is a conversation about this right now on

www.lbc.co.uk

Get involved

As I said on the other thread these are unprecedented times that call for drastic measures. The rich won't always have to pay such high taxes but for the next few years they will have to tighten their belts along with the rest of the us.

Someone just called the Wright Stuff and said that he felt the measures were unfair and the tax hikes should have be spread out to include rises for middle and low income earners. What the moron caller fails to comprehend is that middle income earners have been paying through their noses for years and further tax increases in this group will result in further house repossessions resulting in further damage to the economy. Whereas tax rises on the countries richest just means that they might have to cancel their easter skiing trip and holiday in the South of France instead of St Lucia. My heart bleeds for the tossers, a lot of those affected got us into this mess in the first place.

What is the alternative? has anyone actually come up with a viable alternative that won't lead to further hardship for people on average incomes?

Never let it be said that it's a crime on mumsnet to be well off!

The poster in the other thread is entitled to her view. You may not have sympathy with it - but starting another thread to slag her off is really unfair.

FO but in a few years it will be too late. Because the high earners will have left the country and moved somewhere else taking their company and their taxes with them and leaving thousands of redundancies behind them.

Personally I think the self-employed should be hit first. I know several people who run their own businesses, and not one of them even pays the basic 22% income tax because of all the loopholes that allow them to avoid doing so. And no they're not high earners but so what? they're not even paying basic tax and it's totally legal.

And there are far more self employed people than high earners.

So yes, in a way the lower and middle earners (the self employed ones only obviously) should also be made to pay correct taxes.

viable alternative? Get rid of Labour.
"Every Labour Government ends up running out of money."

And very few people will actually leave the country. How many people said that they would leave when Labour came into power? And then quickly backtracked.

They strike me as angry children throwing their toys out of the pram. They have to be taxed heavier for the next few years there is no alternative! Tax the middle income earners and the country will just go to pot resulting in the higher earners losing their businesses anyway! They need to put up and shut up and realise that the next few years will be tough for EVERYONE at least they aren't likely to find themselves homeless on the streets which is a real possibility for less well off people.

Well yes fembear, I would like to see the back of Labour as much as the next person. They are a shambles but I do support the tax measures announced at the budget yesterday, I can't personally see an alternative.

Hopefully these tax havens will be closed down before too long

wannabe: Personally I think the self-employed should be hit first. I know several people who run their own businesses, and not one of them even pays the basic 22% income tax because of all the loopholes that allow them to avoid doing so.

Actually that is very unfair - both I and DP are self employed and neither of us cheats on our taxes or uses 'loopholes'. I've read comments like this a few times on the other thread and its just wromng to tar everyone with the same brush and it pisses me off tbh.

I share your pain but can't hand on heart say I would be too happy about paying 51% of my salary if I earned that much

deffo agree, leave the country then...loads of people would love your £150,000 job..will probably do it better, and not moan about taxes.

byeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Why do people keep referring to it is being "51% of my salary"?

It is no where near that amount!

Only when your earning hit £150,000 does the 50% tax band kick in.

NO ONE is going to pay 51% tax.

Plus the people who are earning that much will pay money into pensions (thus gaining tax relief at 50%) etc so in effect won;t pay anywhere near that level of tax.

Problem is people seemingly not understandinghow tax works!

But Claire, I am self employed now and am astonished at how much less tax I pay now compared to being PAYE. The deductions you can make are vast compared to PAYE (i.e. none).

YANBU

All this stuff about how the country will go down the pan without these geniuses. Well these same geniuses are the very ones who got us in this financial disaster in the first place.

Where exactly are they going to go? I will also guarantee that if they should be struck down with a serious illness they will be straight back to the UK to sponge off the NHS.

Let them go! There are plenty of homegrown geniuses who are willing and able to replace them and similarly, there are plenty of foreign geniuses who would love the opportunity to do what they do, but only better and for a fraction of the price.

DH is a high rate tax payer and if I was not working part-time, I would be too. We do not begrudge a penny of tax we pay. After all, how much money does one person actually need once you have taken care of the essentials? If you cannot live within your income when earning over £150k then the lifestyle you have chosen is clearly too extravagant for your income and you need to change it. After all, how many holidays a year, holiday homes, botox treatments and expensive private school fees does one need?

What Dp said