tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post6778436288648151749..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: An Achieveable Tax Cut?Iain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-24202983101353257122008-03-18T17:00:00.000+00:002008-03-18T17:00:00.000+00:00As Milton Friedman said, the only practical way to...As Milton Friedman said, the only practical way to cut spending is to cut taxes.<BR/><BR/>Anyone wanting to reduce a budget will first reduce the budget and THEN go around looking for the NECESSARY savings. It is no use going around asking people to cut therir spending before cutting the income, as that will just mean each department will do all it can to only yield small savings.Roger Thornhillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01153744692290896812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-45636516115100297132008-03-17T15:50:00.000+00:002008-03-17T15:50:00.000+00:00Pensioners already have a 9K nil rate band from Ap...Pensioners already have a 9K nil rate band from April 2008. It was introduced by McBean last year. Done in that way to maintain NuLabs record of stealth. In Donal's case its clearly worked.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-71505202260844321432008-03-17T13:43:00.000+00:002008-03-17T13:43:00.000+00:00If you aboilsh income tax for the lower earners, w...If you aboilsh income tax for the lower earners, what happens to tax relief on their pension contributions? <BR/><BR/>A reduced incentive to save for retirement , especially at the lower reaches of the wage scale.<BR/><BR/>Think outside the box by all means, but this thinking seems to be happening too near to your own goal!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-41706308360902024702008-03-17T11:56:00.000+00:002008-03-17T11:56:00.000+00:00well scraping the whole of income tax seems a good...well scraping the whole of income tax seems a good idea. apart from the savings speculated (not including the EU subscription) we would also be able to shut down the Inland revenue department, most of the treasury department and all the quangos related to income statistics. We most be nearly at the point where it costs as much to administer the inland rev. than it gets from income tax. Come on fellows, start thinking out of the box.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-53629025715433968902008-03-17T10:16:00.000+00:002008-03-17T10:16:00.000+00:00Anon 9.54 amThat is a very good idea!We often see ...Anon 9.54 am<BR/><BR/>That is a very good idea!<BR/><BR/>We often see the VAT element of a purchase being shown on a receipt - presumably to help those individuals and companies who are registered for VAT, reclaim the correct amount.<BR/><BR/>However, since the government introduced a tax on insurance premiums and airline flights, it's interesting to see that they show the tax as a separate item <I> even though nobody can claim it back.</I><BR/><BR/>Doubtless the Chancellor would not be happy if this practice became more widespread...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-65741867129537532752008-03-17T10:11:00.000+00:002008-03-17T10:11:00.000+00:00Quite simple really Ian. You raise the allowance t...Quite simple really Ian. <BR/>You raise the allowance to the minimum wage. <BR/>Sack all the hangerson.... sorry civil servants who administer the useless benefits, grants, subsidies etc system.<BR/>Then set a tax level which everyone above the allowance level pays tax.<BR/>The result.... the very rich will actually pay more tax because they don't have to find tax avoidance methods (there won't be any!) and the poorest don't pay any tax!<BR/>It's called flat tax and it already operates in many countries!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-66870126166002783312008-03-17T10:05:00.000+00:002008-03-17T10:05:00.000+00:00I agree completely with the logic of raising thres...I agree completely with the logic of raising thresholds, not just on the basic rate.<BR/><BR/>however it is assinine for mpeople to complain about Conservatives reluctance to commit to anything specific. Has anyone seen the state of the nations finances recently?<BR/><BR/>Lets not forget that even under Thatcher, Howe actually raised taxes before the economy was in sufficient state to cope with tax cuts and a reduction in the national 'take'.<BR/><BR/>Also the huge splurge in govt spending under Brown has let a very fat genie out of the bottle. it will be difficult to cut back spending, not impossible for sure, but it will be difficult politically to claim to be able to make painless tax cuts - and govt borrowing is already much too high, so it seems to me most true conservatives should try to engage brain before opening mouths.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-57271287492450742972008-03-17T09:54:00.000+00:002008-03-17T09:54:00.000+00:00It doesn't take people out of the tax net - only t...It doesn't take people out of the tax net - only the 'income tax' net...<BR/>You seem to be forgetting about all of the other taxes...<BR/><BR/>But most of these taxes are invisible! <BR/><BR/>How about a nice simple law that says all till receipts must show the tax paid? Works in the USA & Canada. Imagine a giant sign at each petrol station saying TAX PER LITRE is £1 - in bright red letters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-55916398367823464382008-03-17T09:53:00.000+00:002008-03-17T09:53:00.000+00:00We have to be carefl not to use the tax-and-spende...We have to be carefl not to use the tax-and-spenders' language. It doesn't "cost" money to make tax cuts. You just don't raise that tax in the first place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-89240128041701867252008-03-17T09:51:00.000+00:002008-03-17T09:51:00.000+00:00I'm getting fed up of people harrassing David Came...I'm getting fed up of people harrassing David Cameron about tax cuts even before the next election. How can David Cameron or anyone else predict how much of a mess this country's finances will be in 12 or 24 months from now?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-42854771027861534022008-03-17T09:43:00.000+00:002008-03-17T09:43:00.000+00:00I find it interesting that cutting taxes is seen a...I find it interesting that cutting taxes is seen as a cost...<BR/><BR/>I would have thought that a cost is taxes going up.<BR/><BR/>Years of propaganda by the state, and this is the result.monoihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00033153810120278513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-29952239736187938382008-03-17T09:23:00.000+00:002008-03-17T09:23:00.000+00:00I agree with the sceptics, of whom there are regre...I agree with the sceptics, of whom there are regrettably few to be seen here. This is one of those ideas that sounds really good, but has unintended consequences that are bad.<BR/><BR/>Anyone who works should pay tax. People on low incomes naturally support very high taxes because they are more likely to be in receipt of free education, health care, social housing and other benefits. If they/we are personally exempt from tax, all the brakes come off. <BR/><BR/>Not something which a government hoping to encourage responsibility and discipline would want.asquithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246701347539264295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-50830001588702170532008-03-17T09:19:00.000+00:002008-03-17T09:19:00.000+00:00Does anyone know what proportion of our taxes goes...Does anyone know what proportion of our taxes goes to fund public sector pensions?<BR/><BR/>I've read that 28p of every £1 of Council Tax now goes to fund pensions for retired council employees.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-10563451413312880842008-03-17T09:16:00.000+00:002008-03-17T09:16:00.000+00:00Nobody who earns less than median income should pa...Nobody who earns less than median income should pay tax on their income. Shift the burden to indirect taxes if you have to and possibly increase the upper rate a bit to compensate. The people who pay the highest marginal rates are those at the bottom of the income scale which actively discourages people to move from benefits to work and from low-paid work to higher-paid work.Old BEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06974090439936326476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-53381481726510093792008-03-17T09:15:00.000+00:002008-03-17T09:15:00.000+00:00Choosing the fairest / most politically advantageo...Choosing the fairest / most politically advantageous / simplest tax cut is relatively easy.<BR/><BR/>The KEY challenge is to stop spending so much and cut out the waste. <BR/><BR/>Since public borrowing is just tax deferred I don't really care so much what is said about tax cuts.<BR/><BR/>Message from very pissed off taxpayer to Mt Cameron - CUT PUBLIC SPENDING.<BR/><BR/>If you want to reduce the debt stop thinking in terms of tax and start thinking in terms of spending.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05577562096155323258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-82382508460898495812008-03-17T08:55:00.000+00:002008-03-17T08:55:00.000+00:00Bonjour Monsieur IainWhy are taxs on employment so...Bonjour Monsieur Iain<BR/><BR/>Why are taxs on employment so high :<BR/><BR/>20% basic Income Tax<BR/><BR/>11% National Insurance on employees<BR/><BR/>12.8% National Insurance on employers<BR/><BR/>Total 40.6% of every extra £100 paid by Employers<BR/><BR/>Is the Object of Taxation on Employment to MINIMISE Employment Levels ??? <BR/><BR/>... or to drive JOBS ABROAD ???<BR/><BR/>I remain yr obedinet servant etc<BR/><BR/>G AdlerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-27098503840295808042008-03-17T08:37:00.000+00:002008-03-17T08:37:00.000+00:00Another point. How many people are estimated to be...Another point. How many people are estimated to be in the wrong tax bracket due to incompetence by HM Treasury? Does NOBODY check what these f'kwits are doing.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-8319631456399590822008-03-17T08:00:00.000+00:002008-03-17T08:00:00.000+00:00"A large increase in the allowance will take more ..."A large increase in the allowance will take more people out of the tax net. This is a BAD thing. If people can get services without paying for them, then they vote for the party that will provide the most lavish services."<BR/><BR/><BR/>It doesn't take people out of the tax net - only the 'income tax' net...<BR/>You seem to be forgetting about all of the other taxes...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-74215077099987454782008-03-17T07:41:00.000+00:002008-03-17T07:41:00.000+00:00Why are the Tories not looking to cut civil servic...Why are the Tories not looking to cut civil service admin costs, Lower tax to to abolish all the civil servants involved in tax credits, Simple income tax, scrap tv licence and road tax, clear out most Quangos, council tax scrapped and paid by central government at so much per person, etc etc.<BR/><BR/>Where is the vision to reduce civil sservants by massive numbers?Johnny Norfolkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900659617233793880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-42464020453520137562008-03-17T07:26:00.000+00:002008-03-17T07:26:00.000+00:00I have better idea. All income should be taxed; n...I have better idea. All income should be taxed; no allowances at all.<BR/><BR/>There are far too many people in this country who think money grows on trees.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-10806426158264047712008-03-17T03:52:00.000+00:002008-03-17T03:52:00.000+00:00Anon 10:01Yes that is one very good reason indeed ...Anon 10:01<BR/><BR/>Yes that is one very good reason indeed why Cameron would be insane to ofter anything on taxes. Other then maybe a commitment to not radically increase them.<BR/><BR/>Keeping expectations as low as possible has got to be the right move. Its worked so far, he currently has a 16 point lead anyway. I cant remember Thatcher promising hardly anything. At the time most people were more concerned about the rubbish collection and burying their dead.<BR/><BR/>I predict similar things will be afoot by 2010. Its just the way the democratic system is planned to work in this silly country of ours.<BR/><BR/>The Conservative Party only gets in when things can not get worse. But they still do anyway, and then slowly things get better, if we are lucky. Been there seen that, brought the T-shirt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-67829545625275353282008-03-17T00:25:00.000+00:002008-03-17T00:25:00.000+00:00Ian,Please stop advocating fruitcake policies. Wha...Ian,<BR/>Please stop advocating fruitcake policies. What next; leave the EU?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-20815556970907833702008-03-16T23:44:00.000+00:002008-03-16T23:44:00.000+00:00A £10k zero-tax band would be fantastic, and lift ...A £10k zero-tax band would be fantastic, and lift so many low-paid people out of tax altogether, whilst winning over higher-paid people too. It gets my vote.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-63687791668084529542008-03-16T23:27:00.000+00:002008-03-16T23:27:00.000+00:00Interesting idea, care to say HOW?OTOH, why not ju...Interesting idea, care to say HOW?<BR/><BR/>OTOH, why not just abolish all income tax.<BR/><BR/>This would cost £150bn so what govt spending needs to be cut to provide £150bn<BR/><BR/>Save £24bn by introducing education vouchers at £4000 per child and £10,000 per Uni student.<BR/><BR/>Scrapping all non NHS quangos £67bn.<BR/><BR/>Not giving money to the EU £15bn<BR/><BR/>Scrapping tax credits £14bn (With no Income Tax, tax credits would be unnecessary).<BR/><BR/>Foreign Aid £5bn<BR/><BR/>Welfare for industry £15bn<BR/><BR/>Transport £10bn<BR/><BR/>Result £150bn saved and nobody needs to pay any income tax.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-52835182069933083172008-03-16T23:26:00.000+00:002008-03-16T23:26:00.000+00:00If you do not wish to pay any income tax (albeit f...If you do not wish to pay any income tax (albeit for just one year!)<BR/>declare yourself bankrupt!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com