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[Finance] Cut tax or leave alone?



Kinky Gerbil

Im The Scatman
NSC Patron
Jul 16, 2003
58,789
hassocks
Quite honestly, I don’t think any insurance company would accept me due to a raft of unconnected medical problems. I have probably cost the NHS over £1 million over the years, and I have problems that will never be cured, only managed.
The only way I could afford the premium I would be charged, is if they gave a substantial dispensation for Armed Forces Veterans.

Which is when the Gov would step in and support, plus If we went down that route I’m pretty certain there would be an ex forces insurance scheme by most insurance companies, potentially part funded by Government.
 




LamieRobertson

Not awoke
Feb 3, 2008
48,398
SHOREHAM BY SEA
its sad the debate is always around tax cuts or rises, not about what is needed and how to fund it first. so it gets bogged down to narrow politics rather than broader consideration. example, tax Amazon more - why them? why not VW, they make a lot of money too.

right now we have confluence of high inflation and impending recession, making tax cuts very awkward as they are inflationary but also help growth. so targeted cuts, duties VAT, levies on fuel and energy bills would make sense for short term. these will reduce inflation, so benefical without negative effects, and lower revenue is offset by tax revenues higher elsewhere.

Expressed so much better than i tried to do
 


drew

Drew
NSC Patron
Oct 3, 2006
23,607
Burgess Hill
Cutting the green tax completely should be done asap.

I’m sure there is a better way to incentivise the oil companies into investing more into green fuels.

Then suggest one then!

Increase tax on fossil fuels and give massive incentives to greener fuels. By the way, enjoy the sunshine tomorrow!
 


WATFORD zero

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 10, 2003
27,747
We have Brexit, Covid and the impact of the Ukraine war to pay for against a background of Inflation and Recession.

Regardless of what is said and what rabbits will 'appear' from hats in the next few days, weeks and months, Tax is not going to be cut (or left alone, come to that), It is only going one way. Sorry :down:
 


drew

Drew
NSC Patron
Oct 3, 2006
23,607
Burgess Hill
We have Brexit, Covid and the impact of the Ukraine war to pay for against a background of Inflation and Recession.

Regardless of what is said and what rabbits will 'appear' from hats in the next few days, weeks and months, Tax is not going to be cut (or left alone, come to that), It is only going one way. Sorry :down:

Is there another thread about common sense you could bugger off to? You might spoil this thread for certain types of posters!!
 




Kinky Gerbil

Im The Scatman
NSC Patron
Jul 16, 2003
58,789
hassocks
Then suggest one then!

Increase tax on fossil fuels and give massive incentives to greener fuels. By the way, enjoy the sunshine tomorrow!

Tax breaks for investing in green fuels would be a place to start.

I think I’ll cope, do you think those who are struggling to pay the fuel bills in the winter will cope then?
 


GT49er

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Feb 1, 2009
49,171
Gloucester
Knock a bit off fuel duty and/or VAT to help the poorest, by all means.

But the NHS is on its knees due to cuts, and we are all complaining about waiting times, etc, etc.
The police service is on its knees due to cuts, and we're all complaining that we never see a poiceman and that their idea of reacting to burglary is to give out a crime number.
The passport office is on its kees due to cuts and people seem to be angry about waiting too long to get a passpirt.
The DVLA is on ts knees due to cuts......
Local government is on its knees due to cuts; bins not emptied often enough, potholes, blah blah.
Social care is practically non existant in some areas due to cuts......

On top of this there's a financial perfect storm due to Covid (now much did all those furlough payments cost? - plus £billions of other unplanned expenditure) and now the huge price increases due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine disrupting trade. Not forgetting the expected short term dip through Brexit......... and people are clamouring for the government to pay for all this, plus the required improvements in the NHS, policing, social care, etc. with tax cuts? Mental.

At the end of the day the Government needs to bite the bullet and increase income tax, the fairest of all the taxes we have. The very poorest don't pay income tax, so it won't hammer them. For somebody on minimum wage, it would cost them roughly between £1 and £1.30 a week depending on the number of hours worked. For someone on £500 a week, it would cost them not much more than half the price of a pint. Many of us think that would be a fair price to pay if it meant we could see a GP the same month, find NHS dentistry wherever ir was needed, and when we get old and doddery and need a little help to live independently to know that help was there.

Politicians though - on all sides just about, it seems - are obsessed with tax cuts, tax cuts............and more tax cuts.
 
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Thunder Bolt

Silly old bat
….but for balance residents typically get higher salaries and pay a lot less income tax. Those on low incomes etc also don’t have to pay the charges.

I posted it as a guideline rather than a definitive solution. We forget how much our health treatments actually cost.
 


Thunder Bolt

Silly old bat
USA is a mess, quite a few countries have a mixture of insurance/ state funded.

I know that, but our government have been courting the USA insurance companies.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/rishi-sunak-sent-ministers-uk-25734366

If we had to go down that route, the French system seems fairer, but France is struggling with a lack of doctors at present. Friends of mine have to travel over 10 miles to see their doctor, and they aren’t in a rural area.
 


Eric the meek

Fiveways Wilf
NSC Patron
Aug 24, 2020
7,081
Knock a bit off fuel duty and/or VAT to help the poorest, by all means.

But the NHS is on its knees due to cuts, and we are all complaining about waiting times, etc, etc.
The police service is on its knees due to cuts, and we're all complaining that we never see a poiceman and that there idea of reacting to burglary is to t=give out a crime number.
The passport office is on its kees due to cuts and people seem to be angry about waiting too ling to get a passpirt.
The DVLA s on ts knees due to cuts......
Local government is on its knees due to cuts; bins not emptied often enough, potholes, blah blah.
Social care is practically non existant in some areas due to cuts......

On top of this there's a financial perfect storm due to Covid (now much did all those furlough payments cost? - plus £billions of other unplanned expenditure) and now the huge price increases due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine disrupting trade. Not forgetting the expected short term dip through Brexit......... and people are clamouring for the government to pay for all this, plus the required improvements in the NHS, policing, social care, etc. with tax cuts? Mental.

At the end of the day the Government neds to bite the bullet and increase income tax, the fairest of all the taxes we have. The very poorest don't pay income tax, so it won't hammer them. For somebody on minimum wage, it would cost them roughly between £1 and £1.30 a week depending on the number of hours worked. For someone on £500 a week, it would cost them not much more than half the price of a pint. Many of us think that would be a fair price to pay if it meant we could see a GP the same month, find NHS dentistry wherever ir was needed, and when we get old and doddery and need a little help to live independently to know that help was there.

Politicians though - on all sides just about, it seems - are obsessed with tax cuts, tax cuts............and more tax cuts.

I would broadly agree with all of that. I would add that we need more tax take, not less, also to maintain debt repayments from spending on Covid, furlough payments, and latterly Ukraine etc.

Either the Tory leadership candidates are not being honest about the wisdom of tax cuts, or they are incompetent, or they don't care and will say anything to get the gig.

But to strike a balance, it isn't always about the solution being throwing money at the problem. A few years ago, there was a study of GP practices, into why it was so difficult to get an appointment. Being peak Brexit, you can guess who the scapegoat was - immigrants. But the study revealed that the main cause of lack of GP appointments, was a small number of patients who booked loads of appointments far into the future - in case they needed them. How about that? Just how selfish can people possibly be?
 






Weststander

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2011
69,238
Withdean area
To cut the total tax take just now is fantasy economics. Public expenditure is much higher due to servicing the pandemic support and support for those suffering from the cost of living crisis.

R4 covered this yesterday, an economist (not a lefite) said that an income tax rate cut at this point in the economic cycle will not translate into a boost for the economy. It barely touches the sides.

Suggestions on tax and spend:
- Increase support for those genuinely suffering, probably those on income support or similar. Those doing nicely or living comfortably, I know many, many folk in that category, simply do not need help with home fuel bills. Let’s support the poor soles unable to buy groceries, pay for a replacement white good, turning to loan sharks or credit cards.
- A windfall tax on the UK based oil and and gas companies.
- Raise personal allowances and NI thresholds.
 
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GT49er

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Feb 1, 2009
49,171
Gloucester
I would broadly agree with all of that. I would add that we need more tax take, not less, also to maintain debt repayments from spending on Covid, furlough payments, and latterly Ukraine etc.

Either the Tory leadership candidates are not being honest about the wisdom of tax cuts, or they are incompetent, or they don't care and will say anything to get the gig.

But to strike a balance, it isn't always about the solution being throwing money at the problem. A few years ago, there was a study of GP practices, into why it was so difficult to get an appointment. Being peak Brexit, you can guess who the scapegoat was - immigrants. But the study revealed that the main cause of lack of GP appointments, was a small number of patients who booked loads of appointments far into the future - in case they needed them. How about that? Just how selfish can people possibly be?

I haven't made multiple appointments......... yet - but I'm considering it! I've got an appointment with a doctor in ten days time - but I made the appointment last month! One ailment per appointment is the rule - there are four things that I would currently like to have checked out, and they've agreed to consider two of them in this one appointment! Nice of them!
A third complaint was to be dealt with by a phone consultation - which never happened. No loss really - a small skin leision which doesn't seem to want to go away, and I don't see how they can possibly tell what that is withoit looking at it! Could be a little ulcer, could be an infected insect bite, could be skin cancer (hope not though!), or somethig else altogether - but they all look the same down a phone line!

What I'm saying is, not everyone who books more than one appointment is necessarily doing it for selfish reasons!
 




Guinness Boy

Tofu eating wokerati
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patron
Jul 23, 2003
37,338
Up and Coming Sunny Portslade
Insurances have excess, and also have exclusion clauses. Many insurances find excuses not to pay out. A tragedy in my family meant my cousin’s daughter, in her 40s, died in the USA because her insurance wouldn’t pay out.

Quite honestly, I don’t think any insurance company would accept me due to a raft of unconnected medical problems. I have probably cost the NHS over £1 million over the years, and I have problems that will never be cured, only managed.
The only way I could afford the premium I would be charged, is if they gave a substantial dispensation for Armed Forces Veterans.

Health Insurance can be sold in a number of different ways.

In The Netherlands there is no excess for a visit to hospital or a GP, the policies are mandatory, relatively cheap (around 115 Euros a year for a basic mandatory insurance plan) and cannot be lapsed even if you are in prison.

Insurers and MGAs make very, very little on these - their money is made with sold add ons such as dental or physiotherapy insurance. Physio policies I have seen are incredibly generous. 36 free visits per policy year. When I was running regularly I used to spend a fortune on sorting out my sports injuries.

In the same country your employer will pay sickness or disability pay and claim it directly from an insurer. There are no state workers involved and therefore no delay in payment.
 


Bob!

Coffee Buyer
Jul 5, 2003
11,629
Remove lower paid people from Income tax - put the personal allowance up to £16K or so?

This.

Plus UBI that goes up with cost of basics (rent, utilities, food).

Stop tax avoidance by companies and wealthy.

Wealth Tax.

Proper inheritance tax (estate over £5m?)
 
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Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
62,677
The Fatherland
Would I trust the Tories with my tax …..no ****ing way. I’d rather keep my money then have them dishing it out to their friends, family and neighbours. I’d therefore vote for low taxes if it was a Tory government and higher if Labour.
 


Barnet Seagull

Luxury Player
Jul 14, 2003
5,983
Falmer, soon...
Short of reforming tax completely...

Increase inheritance tax
Reduce tax on first x of income
Reverse national insurance rise
Significantly reduce stamp duty
Increase tax on online sales
Reduce business rates
 




A1X

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Sep 1, 2017
20,521
Deepest, darkest Sussex
Unfortunately all the people who should be taxed won’t be under a Tory government
 


Eric the meek

Fiveways Wilf
NSC Patron
Aug 24, 2020
7,081
I haven't made multiple appointments......... yet - but I'm considering it! I've got an appointment with a doctor in ten days time - but I made the appointment last month! One ailment per appointment is the rule - there are four things that I would currently like to have checked out, and they've agreed to consider two of them in this one appointment! Nice of them!
A third complaint was to be dealt with by a phone consultation - which never happened. No loss really - a small skin leision which doesn't seem to want to go away, and I don't see how they can possibly tell what that is withoit looking at it! Could be a little ulcer, could be an infected insect bite, could be skin cancer (hope not though!), or somethig else altogether - but they all look the same down a phone line!

What I'm saying is, not everyone who books more than one appointment is necessarily doing it for selfish reasons!

I am sure you are right. You obviously have a valid reason for booking up multiple appointments. I would suggest that the reason you have to book them up as multiple appointments, might be because the triage system has changed to try to filter out the timewasters (not you) who like to book up several appointments for ailments that they expect to be suffering from at varying points in the future. I remember the study mentioned that it really was a small subset of patients who were doing this.

Anyway, we are digressing from the subject of the thread....
 


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