The Virtual Pub

Come Inside... => The Commons => Topic started by: Snoopy on May 13, 2010, 07:15:19 AM

Title: VAT
Post by: Snoopy on May 13, 2010, 07:15:19 AM
Almost a certainty to be increased ...... Do we care?
I have always felt that VAT is a better tax than taxes on income. If you don't want to pay it you don't buy anything. Simples.
What do we think?
How should the Goverment set about raising the cash needed to pay our debts?
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Snoopy on May 13, 2010, 10:29:03 AM
Oh and this statement would have nothing to do with Lord Sainsbury being a Labour Peer or my other post (http://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/index.php?topic=7870.0) regarding Sainsbury's massive and increasing profits would it?

Quote
J Sainsbury today warned that future sales growth could be impacted from a possible rise in VAT to 20 per cent under the new coalition Government.

Announcing the supermarket group’s full-year results, chief executive Justin King said: "A VAT rise to 20 per cent is clearly on the Government's mind. What we would say is we need to know in good time and would say that there needs to be sensible timing and not in our key trading periods such as the run up to and in the aftermath of Christmas."

According to a BBC survey of leading economists, 24 out of 28 experts said they expected a rise in VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent in the coming Parliament.

The move could raise as much as £11.5 billion a year, according to analysts.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article7124966.ece
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Uncle Mort on May 13, 2010, 10:37:38 AM
Surely their core product (food) doesn't attract VAT?

Go for it I say, an extra ?11.5 billion a year would be a start.
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Snoopy on May 13, 2010, 10:47:34 AM
VAT on food depends on how it is sold ..... some does attract VAT (Cooked Meats, crisps, ready prepared meals for example) and of course there's all the booze, flowers, pots n pans, paper napkins, ciggies, magazines, books, stationery, CDs, DVDs, make-up, toiletries, razor blades, clothing, tights, knickers,  ..... actually quite a lot of your average supermarket basket does attract VAT and that's before you see how much they sell in the way of microwaves, TV sets, DVD players, rice cookers, electric fires, electric fans etc etc.
Asda are even worse and as for Tesco ~ half the local store is given over to non food items.
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Barman on May 13, 2010, 12:33:46 PM
I reckon we (well you lot) pay enough tax on what you earn without being taxed again on what you spend... remember upping VAT will increase the cost of fuel too (which is a tax on a tax) and therefore push up the price of everything...

I'd rather see spending slashed - I'd start with every single quango and fake charity then pull out of Europe....
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Uncle Mort on May 13, 2010, 12:37:43 PM
I believe it's going to be cut spending and raise taxes. We're doomed otherwise.
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Barman on May 13, 2010, 12:39:50 PM
I believe it's going to be cut spending and raise taxes. We're doomed otherwise.

The worst case scenario is to cut a bit of spending and raise taxes massively while still pissing away billions on quangos and Europe...
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Darwins Selection on May 13, 2010, 12:55:40 PM
I refuse to take part as you can only select one option
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Barman on May 13, 2010, 01:06:07 PM
I refuse to take part as you can only select one option

Good point... I was going to select...

Make savings from current expenditure and leave taxes alone
Pull out of Europe and save ?billions
Scrap Trident and any replacement
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Pastis on May 13, 2010, 03:15:47 PM
I'd vote for any of the above that resulted in my retaining some choice in the matter, i.e. not Income tax.

Of course what one should do, hypothetically ahem  whistle: , is to become vat registered on the flat rate scheme, trade up to no more than ?150K p.a., apply the vat of say, 20% (?30K) and under the terms of the scheme only return 10% p.a. to HMRC (?15K). As for what happens to the remaining ?15K one couldn't possibly say.

 angel1
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Nick on May 13, 2010, 05:21:56 PM
Theer is something quite different that they could and may do, though I have heard no mention of it, which is to cut the block grant to Local Authorities and tell them to raise their own dosh via Council Tax. That would concentrate some minds.
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Snoopy on May 13, 2010, 05:32:17 PM
Theer is something quite different that they could and may do, though I have heard no mention of it, which is to cut the block grant to Local Authorities and tell them to raise their own dosh via Council Tax. That would concentrate some minds.

Of course the Lib/Dems have long held that a "Local Income Tax" is what is needed but they seem to have quietly dropped that idea in the past few years.

I'm not keen on local taxes as there is always a basic unfairness in the way they are assessed.
The Poll Tax was always a non-starter. Local Rates were based on size/rentable value (always a best guess situation) of the property and took no account of the cost of upkeep on larger properties often maintained on a diminishing income and the American Local Sales Tax simply gets people into their cars to make their purchases somewhere cheaper. The current Council Tax is a total shambles as it too is based on a best guess estimate of the rentable value of the property.
The sheer cost of collecting local taxes is another thing I have "issues" with. One central tax collection agency is the cheaper option by far and a tax on expenditure seems to me to be fairer than taxing income.
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Nick on May 13, 2010, 05:46:11 PM
Quite, but that doesn't mean they won't do it!
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Barman on May 13, 2010, 05:47:05 PM
Theer is something quite different that they could and may do, though I have heard no mention of it, which is to cut the block grant to Local Authorities and tell them to raise their own dosh via Council Tax. That would concentrate some minds.

Of course the Lib/Dems have long held that a "Local Income Tax" is what is needed but they seem to have quietly dropped that idea in the past few years.

I'm not keen on local taxes as there is always a basic unfairness in the way they are assessed.
The Poll Tax was always a non-starter. Local Rates were based on size/rentable value (always a best guess situation) of the property and took no account of the cost of upkeep on larger properties often maintained on a diminishing income and the American Local Sales Tax simply gets people into their cars to make their purchases somewhere cheaper. The current Council Tax is a total shambles as it too is based on a best guess estimate of the rentable value of the property.
The sheer cost of collecting local taxes is another thing I have "issues" with. One central tax collection agency is the cheaper option by far and a tax on expenditure seems to me to be fairer than taxing income.

I agree... the more taxes you have the more costly and complex it is to recover them...

Remove Income Tax and bung it all on VAT... job done...as simple as... and suppliers even collect it for you...

Of course, the EU wouldn't allow it...  noooo:
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Pastis on May 13, 2010, 06:00:36 PM

Remove Income Tax and bung it all on VAT... job done...as simple as... and suppliers even collect it for you...


May I refer the Hon Member to post #9 above?  whistle:
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Barman on May 13, 2010, 06:54:40 PM

Remove Income Tax and bung it all on VAT... job done...as simple as... and suppliers even collect it for you...


May I refer the Hon Member to post #9 above?  whistle:

I have already reported you to the tax avoiders hot line...  whistle:
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Miss Demeanour on May 13, 2010, 07:08:44 PM
I'd vote for any of the above that resulted in my retaining some choice in the matter, i.e. not Income tax.

Of course what one should do, hypothetically ahem  whistle: , is to become vat registered on the flat rate scheme, trade up to no more than ?150K p.a., apply the vat of say, 20% (?30K) and under the terms of the scheme only return 10% p.a. to HMRC (?15K). As for what happens to the remaining ?15K one couldn't possibly say.

 angel1


You are veering towards Growler's mathmatically impossible thread that hurts my head immensely  noooo:
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Pastis on May 13, 2010, 07:12:05 PM

Remove Income Tax and bung it all on VAT... job done...as simple as... and suppliers even collect it for you...


May I refer the Hon Member to post #9 above?  whistle:

I have already reported you to the tax avoiders hot line...  whistle:

IIRC Avoidance is within the roolz, evasion is not  whistle:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/start/schemes/flat-rate.htm
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Nick on May 13, 2010, 07:12:34 PM
 whistle:
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Barman on May 13, 2010, 07:15:58 PM
 whistle:
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Nick on May 13, 2010, 07:30:15 PM
BM is a tax exile  noooo:
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Barman on May 13, 2010, 07:31:34 PM
BM is a tax exile  noooo:

 cloud9:
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: tel on May 14, 2010, 09:16:41 AM
If I remember correctly, VAT was "invented" to replace income tax, ie you only paid tax on what you spent, not what you earned. (there again income tax was only a temporary tax)
This is why there were different rates, basic and luxury.
Think it was a Frog who came up with the idea, economics/commerce studies were a long time ago.
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Darwins Selection on May 14, 2010, 10:30:37 AM
Theer is something quite different that they could and may do, though I have heard no mention of it, which is to cut the block grant to Local Authorities and tell them to raise their own dosh via Council Tax. That would concentrate some minds.

I would very much favour that approach.  whistle:
Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Miss Demeanour on May 14, 2010, 10:43:12 AM
 eeek:
 scared2:


Title: Re: VAT
Post by: Darwins Selection on May 14, 2010, 02:53:09 PM
eeek:
 scared2:

See: Council tax, rateable values etc for agricultural land and buildings  whistle: