Play date with mum who agrees with education tax

[BonnuitMy]

Please let me know if I’m overreacting. I recently overheard a new mum at school talking about a local private school closing down due to the education tax and how this is somehow a good thing. She’s now invited my DD for a play date, would you accept?

You’ll find school children a much easier target

The vast majority of people already cannot afford private education.

Following the removal of the VAT exemption a few more also are unable to afford to now. It’s not exactly a major societal issue. Free state education is available to all.

Many, many private schools close each year; this is not a new thing. It’s because of bad business management, there is no reason they cannot increase class sizes or reduce some of the extras they provide. Private schools spend massive amounts per head compared to state schools.

We could also tax people’s cats. You know like a 2000 pounds a year licence fee per cat. How would you feel about that - that is to the cat ladies? Not everyone can afford a nice cat, it is not fair!

@BarnOwlFlying
I think you should have said:
Following the removal of the same VAT exemption which is in place in every country applying VAT, and which had until now been removed only once, by Greece, with catastrophic results including schools closing and tax revenue dropping, and which is being removed in the UK without any clear indication of why what hasn't worked elsewhere should work in our beautiful country,

But, I know, never let facts get in the way of ideology...

And by the way, that is what Switzerland do with dogs I think. High licence fees for dog owners, given they do cost society something. So I am not making this up.

Or just not tax education? Honestly it’s like hitting yourself in the face with a brick and telling people it’s fine as you don’t think you’ll need all your teeth anyway.

The vast majority of SEN children attend state schools as the vast majority of parents cannot afford private.

In my personal experience, private schools only accept children with minor SEN issues (anyone who is likely to be disruptive or negatively affect exam results is not offered a place).

You’re correct! A quick google suggests that the fee is around £35-£180 per dog. There’s an estimated 13.5m does in the UK. That would probably bring in more tax than VAT on school fees. Dogs are hardly an essential. They’re a “nice to have” (obviously excluding assistance and therapy dogs).

@BarnOwlFlying The vast majority of SEN children attend state schools as the vast majority of parents cannot afford private.
I never said nor implied otherwise.

In my personal experience, private schools only accept children with minor SEN issues (anyone who is likely to be disruptive or negatively affect exam results is not offered a place).

This doesn't change the fact that some SEN parents who can afford to choose to go private not to stick it to the working class, but because the state cannot cater to those special needs (we have gazillions of threads here, too, on this).

I made the example of a friend with a visually impaired child, who had to fight tooth and nail with a state grammar school, because they didn't want to print a larger and more visible answer sheet. If somethiong so banal requires a fight, how about daily interactions?

There are numerous independent schools which specialise in educating those with SEN.

@BonnuitMy 93% of the people on this AIBU think you are wrong - so have a picture of a cat - it might make you feel better.

And @Araminta1003 actually cat owners already pay VAT on vet bills. Because having a pet is a luxury - just like private education.

Vets educating cats is the weirdest excuse for education tax yet, but it’s my favourite,

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats - I am quite sure you and @cardibach could afford to pay a nice licence fee though and would happily do so for your cats as you love them so much, can afford it and would be the right thing to do for society, right?

I didn't get "nice" cats. I got the ones that were living rough and roaming the streets, cats who would be dead years ago if they hadn't been taken in to a rescue & then adopted. People who buy pedigree cats pay a fortune for them & their insurance tends to be higher. I pay VAT on their food, I pay VAT on their vet bills, I even pay insurance tax on their insurance.

So I pay VAT on this "luxury" item, that has kept my mental health in a bearable place.

We aren't talking about the on going fees here though, just the VAT element of them. Which all cat owners pay in various ways.

Yes but, in all fairnesss to cats they don’t cost the tax payer 8k a year for 14 years if you don’t pay or go on to pay income tax for 45 years when they grow up.

A child is not a luxury item comrade.

Comrade - really? Ah I see, that's your favorite way of saying tax on private schooling is communist thinking (though I don't see how you have that idea), you've called others that on this thread.

Many children don't go on to pay income tax for the next 45 years either, they may be unemployed, disabled, need tax credits to get by.... A rather poor straw man IMO.

Are we really going to have an argument about whether or not a human pays more income tax than a cat ? I’m in. Do you mind if I quickly order in a bottle of wine and some choccy?

This cat has paid income tax.

But this cat has not.

I don't think either went to private school.

OMG that made me spit out my wine laughing. Brilliant,

I think I may be in love with that cat 💖

It’s lunacy when supporters of the tax resort to trying to defend it by equating it to VAT on vets bills for a cat 🤦🏻‍♀️

In fairness, it's become clear it's also lunacy trying to have a reasonable and logical discussion with the OP and pals, so I'm not surprised some folk have resorted to pictures of cats!