VAT on school fees (you have to read this!)

[EverythingAllatOnceAllTheTime]

Government’s private schools VAT raid ‘could cost taxpayer £1.8bn’

Parents who are forced out of sector are likely to work less or even quit jobs, according to think tank research.

Adam Smith Institute.

I would massively judge anyone who doesn't put their family first!

How fucking dare you?! I have paid far more tax than most people across my lifetime. And if I reduce my tax by half I will still be paying FOUR times as much tax as someone on minimum wage. And that’s just income tax and NI, I’ve paid over £70k in stamp duty moving up the property ladder.

I’ve set a fantastic example as someone who was the first in my family to go to uni and earns five times as much as my dad ever did. I’ve risen from poverty and have more than given back but why should I continue to work 15 hour days when there are plenty of other working parents only working 18 hours a week and claiming benefits?! I won’t be claiming benenfits.

@Sdpbody well as long as you're ok with living some kind of life in a vacuous bubble, thinking only of yourself and your pleasures in a world with serious and distinct problems then you do you.

Some of us actually want to contribute, help and make a difference.

What else in life should not be an option in your view - do tell.

Amen to this.

Even though we won't be using private schools (like ever), I do feel for parents who have to pull out their children if they can't afford VAT.

I've been following this topic and thinks VAT on private schools fees is a double -edge sword.

Apparently, 33% of students in Edinburgh go to private schools so I'm not sure how state schools are going to cope if lots of pupils leave the private schools. I'd imagine most of state school are already over-subscribed in a place like Edinburgh.

@Dibblydoodahdah please let me get my tiny violin out!

Nobody cares. Feel free to go somewhere else and pay taxes there if that's your opinion.

Gross.

I used to think that until I was repeatedly sworn at for choosing not to sacrifice my child's education for my own morals. Since then I think "fuck it", we will look after our own. Never claimed one single thing from the state, collectively pay more tax than median wage and don't ask the state to pay to educate our child yet are being told we have to now pay even more. Bollocks to that! So I will stop working, we will squirrel everything into pension and investments and tax can go to hell.

I find it quite sad and a tad unimaginative that the only way you can conceive of contributing or making a difference in the world is through paying taxes.

The Adam Smith Institute is a right wing think tank. The conclusions it draws are what you would expect from them.

How bloody rude.

@Dibblydoodahdah well done on what you have achieved.

Feel free to populate another thread - you have nothing constructive to add here.

Oh good Lord. Fair play, some private school parents rent showing themselves in the best light on this thread. I’m not really sure I buy the ‘women can’t work’ angle though I certainly think one parent giving up work could be an intended consequence, and for sure additional pension contributions (tho that will be dampened somewhat if Labour adopt the, frankly, crazy suggestion of reducing pension relief).

But your post is hyperbolic bollox. VAT exemption on education is a perfectly legitimate stance. I also think is a rather sweeping statement to suggest private school parents give nothing back to society ‘whatsoever’.

I’m not even getting into the benefit claimant crap. You just sound like you have a massive chip on your shoulder 🤷‍♀️

@Labraradabrador YES!!! agree to this 100%

That’s just ridiculous. We are sending dc to an indie that we can just about afford, there’s no way we will pull him out, and there’s certainly no way we’d additionally drop income if we did. If you’re in the position of working simply to pay fees you’re going to be able to afford that surely?

Private schools haven’t worried about above inflation fee increases over the last 20 years, no one has been up in arms and student population has been pretty stable.

The situation in public services sector is dire. I’m a state school teacher and it’s really bad, we literally don’t have teachers for the 93% of kids in the state sector. They can’t just spend without raising taxes or they risk a Liz Truss economic disaster, but they can’t allow a continuing decline so taxes have to go up.

We aren't leaving the country. I'm just withdrawing my tax contribution

@Perfect28 I was very happy to pay taxes and to keep my child out of the state school system. But if we have to move our children and stop paying taxes, you can blame Labour, not me.

What, low earners? The budget will hit everyone so get off your high horse

Oh and blame Labour and Labour supporters for my change of viewpoint

And yet Labour are committed to hire 6,500 new teachers…

Hmm.

collectively pay more tax than median wage and don't ask the state to pay to educate our child yet are being told we have to now pay even more. Bollocks to that! So I will stop working, we will squirrel everything into pension and investments and tax can go to hell.

Wouldnt it just be easier to pay the VAT? Although I guess it depends if you like your job or not.

We are thinking about private secondary, the increases post Covid have been off putting tbh so I’m really not sure now with the VAT. It would have to been an exceptional school/offer but we are lucky to have a very well regarded state school locally.

Would have been nice to afford it. Disability from your twenties can do a right number on your earning potential and job security, though, and that can mean you aren't deemed to have the financial stability to be able to pass pressure testing/affordability in the case of future increases in interest rates or bills. If I'd had an extra twenty grand a year going spare after paying all bills, however, that might have made a difference.

We can't afford an extra 3-4K per year. Simple