Don't really understand the amount of bitching the VAT increase is causing, myself.
The actual amount of money will mean very little to individuals, but a lot to the country. It works out to an extra 500 quid on a 15,000 pound purchase.
( Kroney, Tue 4 Jan 2011, 9:53, 1 reply, 15 years ago)

The Archbishop of Canterbury said in his Christmas speech
That people aren't too unhappy about paying more tax so long as it's equal, and that all the rich fatcats aren't evading it. I agree with this, for me it's all about equality, and right now I don't believe that that happens.

Sure, raise VAT, but please also collect the millions (if not billions) of taxes owed by big businesses in the UK.
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Tue 4 Jan 2011, 10:04, Reply)

I'm more pissed off it's described as permanent
not "just until we get the deficit under control"
(PsychoChomp, Tue 4 Jan 2011, 10:06, Reply)

That's because it is a nicely regressive tax
and Osbourne is desperate to get rid of the 50% tax threshold so him and all his other highly paid friends can get away with as much money as possible.
(Bazongaloid, Tue 4 Jan 2011, 10:08, Reply)

Hang on a second
big businesses don't owe large amounts of tax, they are simply exploiting perfectly legal tax loopholes. That's a separate argument, though one which I think ought to be made.
(Bazongaloid, Tue 4 Jan 2011, 10:07, Reply)

There is talk that there should be an legal responsibility
for companies to follow the spirit of Tax law and not just the letter.
(PsychoChomp, Tue 4 Jan 2011, 10:10, Reply)

That sounds retarded to me.
"Ok, so, thank's to loopholes and stuff, you're about £25b better off, mr chairman.... please don't be a cunt and sort me out some of that, awww, c'mon, we'll go halfs, how does that sound?"...
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 4 Jan 2011, 10:21, Reply)

I agree with you
But I would like to see these legal tax loopholes closed off. I'd say they are morally obligated to pay these taxes, even if they're currently not legally obligated, but then that just shows that I'm not mercenary enough to be a big businessman.
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Tue 4 Jan 2011, 10:11, Reply)

You can't apply morality to a business though
the sole purpose of the chief executive of a company is to maximise the return for it's shareholders, therefore they are legally obligated to pay as little tax as they can to increase the profit margin.

But, with that in mind, it would be far better to simplify the tax system to prevent these loopholes existing and to ensure that companies making large profits pay the appropriate taxes on those profits.

But you can't actually blame the businesses for not paying the tax.

Having said all that, I really hope Phillip Green gets terminal lung cancer and his wife gets terminal cancer of the cunt. Thieving bastards.
(Bazongaloid, Tue 4 Jan 2011, 10:16, Reply)

Exactly why my wishy-washy philosopher's attitude wouldn't work in big business
I'm a big believer in equality, and that just doesn't work in business.
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Tue 4 Jan 2011, 10:19, Reply)