Another absurd tax in the UK

Another suprising article on how the UK loves to tax people.

http://money.independent.co.uk/personal_finance/tax/article1089640.ece

Hmm, my company just had a family event for employees a couple of weeks ago at an old Manor House, yesterday a barbecue and quarterly there is a do for folks that win awards for doing a great job. Guess we need to start planning on which events "not to go to" or we will be taxed... 

I don't understand all of these taxes. There's far too many. Taxing people for food is a bit low.

Taxing people for food is a bit low.

It's not exactly crumbs and water.

my favorite fee is the tv license tax..
I was like what? I pay for cable what has the bbc given me?

The good news is that income tax is only temporary.   

The bad news is that it's been a temporary tax for two centuries!   

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/history/

The people who complain about taxes are usually the same ones who complain when a street light is out or the rubbish isn't collected or  why you can't find a policeman when you need one.

I think most people accept that some taxes are necessary.  The objections are to taxes being squandered on unnecessary social engineering schemes,  extortionate politicians' expenses, endless unnecessary bureaucracy, and so on. 

We seem to be paying more and more tax for less and less in return.

Why shouldn't you complain when a streetlight is out or the rubbish isn't collected or you can't find a policeman?  It only adds fuel to the fire of righteous indignation when the services you're supposed to be getting in return for all these taxes are nowhere to be seen.

Why shouldn't you complain when a streetlight is out or the rubbish isn't collected or you can't find a policeman?  It only adds fuel to the fire of righteous indignation when the services you're supposed to be getting in return for all these taxes are nowhere to be seen.

Because if we didn't pay taxes, we wouldn't even get the service that we have now.

The way that taxes are allocated is something that can be debated. But you can't have a society without taxes -- unless it's a very technologically primitive society or one that only allows rich people to live in it. Or you volunteer to clean the sewers for free.

what has the bbc given me?

you're joking, right?!     

I don't understand all of these taxes. There's far too many. Taxing people for food is a bit low.

You are taxed for food in the USA too (or at least in Illinois).

So far as I'm aware, VAT (sales tax) is charged on food in all EU countries except the U.K. and Ireland.  It's in the VAT rules.  We got round actually charging tax by setting the VAT rate for food to zero.   

Even then, this applies only to basic food stuffs.  Anything which borders on the "luxury" category is charged 17.5% -- Chocolates, for example.

In New York (at least when I worked as a cashier) prepared ready-to-eat food, candy and fizzy drinks were taxable. Unprepared food was not.  For example, hamburger meat and a bag of hamburger rolls were not taxable.  But if you bought a hamburger on a roll, hot and ready to eat, you would pay tax. It kind of makes sense, as food is not really a luxury, but having someone prepare your food for you is. And candy and fizzy drinks aren't a necessary part of the diet. Oh I just remembered, juice was not taxable, but drinks were. I believe a drink was defined as having less than 10% real fruit juice.

In New York (at least when I worked as a cashier) prepared ready-to-eat food, candy and fizzy drinks were taxable. Unprepared food was not.  For example, hamburger meat and a bag of hamburger rolls were not taxable.  But if you bought a hamburger on a roll, hot and ready to eat, you would pay tax. It kind of makes sense, as food is not really a luxury, but having someone prepare your food for you is. And candy and fizzy drinks aren't a necessary part of the diet. Oh I just remembered, juice was not taxable, but drinks were. I believe a drink was defined as having less than 10% real fruit juice.

Every state is different.  In Washington state, you only paid tax on food items like soda, beer, liquor.  In Illinois, you pay tax on everything. 

Every state is different. 

True.