Change to tax credit laws/proving rape

[CaoNiMa]

I just heard on a Woman's Hour podcast that there are going to be changes in the tax credit system from April this year. Families with more than two children will only be able to claim for a third child if it was born as a result of rape.

I can't quite get my head around this. Things are getting more and more dystopian by the day.

Independent article here It's horrific.

Alison Thewliss's description of it as "fundamentally wicked" is absolutely correct. Will this be likely to get through all the relevant scrutiny and become policy?

Hm, I think this will not go through. I first thought it was about claiming benefits for a third child, which sadly I think would be possible.

But taxes are paid by rich guys, too, and I think there are quite some rich guys who want to have three children and pay less taxes. They could afford to pay taxes, but they usually don't want to.

And then there's the fact that the contraception methods that still involve PIV are all not completely safe, so even the most sensible of people will have unintended pregnancies - the anti-choicers will be up in arms against incentivicing women to have abortions. I hope. They could make themselves useful for once.

I dread to think about the Thick of It style brainstorming that went into thinking up that policy.

But taxes are paid by rich guys, too, and I think there are quite some rich guys who want to have three children and pay less taxes. They could afford to pay taxes, but they usually don't want to

As far as I'm aware no one with a household income of more than £48,000 can claim tax credits for children so that is a non point.

There is a perception that it's very easy to avoid paying tax on income. It actually isn't if you are in the PAYE system or any self employed business which involves regulation.

what is your point? That you should get tax credits for as many children as you choose to have?

Who are you asking ? If it's me, then no I don't think you should get tax credits for an unlimited number of children.

I was replying to Vestal's claim that there are high earning but tax avoiding parents who have an axe to grind in this debate. I think her specific point was irrelevant.