To have though of a fairer way to fund state education than VAT on private?

[wlakaaf]

State schools are in desperate need of funding.

Money needs raising.

Instead of sticking 20% onto private fees - when those people are already paying 100% of the costs for educating their child, how about this:

Parents of children currently in state schools ought to contribute to their education on a means tested basis. There would be no argument over means, it would be a simple reference to the council tax band of the house you live in. We have bands A-H. I would propose that people in band A-F pay nothing. People in band G pay a fixed charge per year and people in band H pay a higher fixed charge per year.

Keir Starmer has used money to buy a massively expensive house, worth in the region of £2m, in the very tight catchment of a lovely state primary. This is buying privilege, same as buying private education. So why does he get away without paying?

Absolutely let's build that in.

Like a tourist tax? It might reduce tourism to the UK and actually be detrimental

I'm not keen on the 20% VAT on school fees idea but taking away the option of free education could leave some children with no education (e.g. wealthy but absent parent refuses to pay, the family is overcommitted in other areas, a sudden redundancy etc etc). I'd prefer just increasing the top rate of income tax for the top 5% of earners. Basically, tax the super rich a bit more and not the squeezed middle.

Why should they pay a contribution to your kids school fees?

Yabu. Where I live, and I expect where the vast majority of people live outside of London schools are much of a muchness, you don't buy a house for its good catchment area etc. And children get decent gcse results, they dont buy those results through tutoring for gramnar school.or paying private fees.. Personally, I'm in favour of abolishing private schooling altogether.

No, UK holidays wouldn't be taxed. Just if we go abroad. Then it would boost our economy.

Precisely. And there you have it.

Just like VAT on private fees will have detrimental consequences for the UK.

Well that would be why we pay huge taxes for holidays!!

My cheaper smaller house now is in a higher tax band than my more expensive previous house. Can we not just go on house value?

I didn't even know it went up to G and H!

Hmm. That'd be about £8k a year from every band h &g household with kids by my estimate.

Compared to average £3k per child if schools pass on the full VAT 20% to parents.

Seems like a lot to add to council tax. Given I think the highest is just £4k a year (band h in Nottingham)

And my guess is a fair few parents would stretch themselves to the £15k average cost of private school, at least those with one child vs pay £8k extra tax.

That said maybe £2k per band g and h house to raise £425m extra AND add VAT to schools.

I don't have school fees

I am suggesting a super tax on all luxury, unnecessary items, goods, and foods. Add it to private school fees, foreign holidays, booze, biscuits! What else?

You can have the basics. Anything more super tax. Sorted. Happy to create a political party.

If you can afford to send your child to private school, you can pay the VAT as well. The fact that private schools get away with labelling themselves as ‘charities’ is appalling.

For goodness sake. Council tax, stamp duty and capital gains tax already fund education.

Plus all of this griping about KS’s house, you do realise that he had to live in central London because of his job as chief crown prosecutor? He didn’t just move there to fix the school system 🙄

Plus not paying VAT on school fees was a privilege which may now be removed. We all pay VAT on loads of products and services- until relatively recently we had to pay it on SANITARY PRODUCTS FFS. Why should private school fees have a special rule? Especially since most of them have an utterly bogus charitable status too…

No, as the band is known by the council. To make things easy and cheap to administer.

How about we just introduce a system where people get taxed based on their earnings, and that's used to fund a free education that all kids can access? Oh wait....

But he’s chosen to get it free by sending his kids to his local schools. 17% of pupils on FSM is not a prep school. Why should he pay when he has every right to access the free education that every child in this country can access?

You seem pretty vexed about the fact all of your money has gone on school fees, but you made this choice, don’t resent other people who didn’t make this choice. I hope the money was worth it as you sound so bitter that your resentment may never abate!

@wlakaaf "I'm happy to pay for my kids. Just not happy to pay a 20% surcharge to fund state education when there are loads of rich G&H people getting it free due to having bought in lovely catchments."

You've really misunderstood tax.. it's not a "surcharge". It's VAT, payable on receipt of most other services. The fact you've got away with at least 5/6 years receiving an expensive service for your kids without paying VAT so far should be considered a win. You pay VAT on other services, this is no different.

But without VAT, and then suddenly add it!

Feels like the waspi pensions women all over again.

Really? Did your council tax not increase this year?

Well, no. Because tourism benefits all the UK, but private education benefits the elite few. It is an interesting proposal. It could make millions.

Exactly.

And clearly you misunderstand that we can add VAT to anything we like, surely....so watch out what we add it to next.

We’re band H. Our house cost £460,000. We earn around £80k between us. We live in one of the poorest local authority areas in Scotland. Our local state school is average at best. Am I the mega-rich person you’re looking to target?

Yes education is pretty different, obviously. It’s compulsory remember.