If you can manage financially - would you pay more tax, for better public services?

The problem in this country is that people want first class public services, NHS, education, Social Care etc but don’t want to pay for them. We have been brainwashed by much of the media for many years to believe that tax is a bad thing to be avoided or evaded as much as possible. Hence the hated figure of the “taxman”.
Paying tax allows us to be a civilised country - to each according to his needs, from each according to his means.

GROWSTUFF

Of course our taxes go towards paying for people who do not work or don't want to work and these aare mainly immigrants who are being housed in hotels etc.. You must be living in cloud cuckoo land if you think they don't. The last time I tried to get a GP appointment was just after Covid when I asked for a GP visit and could not get one so had to ring for an ambulance who refused to take me to hospital as they said I was not ill enough. I rang for a taxi and got to A & E and nearly collapsed and was diagnosed with double pneumonia and kept in hospital for a week. It is now 2024 and I have not been able to get a GP appointment since neither has a few of my friends also in their 80's and no, I cannot claim low income because I have a full state pension and a small private pension and you cannot claim for low income when the benefits calculator states you are not on a low income, if I was on a low income I would not be paying tax.

Yes. I would be happy to pay more tax if it went to the NHS and public services.

I have zero confidence in any of the current cohort or those hoping for office to spend in a way which benefits the people of the UK.

None of the parties are showing that they have the cajunas for much wanted reorganisation of services here, including NHS.

Yes I would. For the greater good.
Those in other European countries pay a lot more tax than us which is probably why their public services are better.

I’ve never paid 40 per cent tax but paid my dues. All donations gratefully received. I worked since I was 15 so I’ve given enough,

GSM you ask about my tax and I pay basic rate income tax.

I would be happy to pay more tax towards public services.

The money has to come from somewhere, so yes, I would.
Inheritance tax, no, over my dead body.

I’d be happy to pay a bit more - if I could be 100% sure it wasn’t going to be wasted. Or spent on fashionable ‘frills’ rather than basic services.

I would certainly pay more for road tax if it were ring fenced for pot hole repairs. Petrol/diesel prices could be increased and the increased amount ring fenced again for pot hole repairs. So those who use the roads more pay more. And it would also pick up a contribution from foreign lorries and tourists. Also using our roads. And the enormous lorries given our roads a battering.

I have paid additional rate tax for years and I have employed people, from cleaners to secretaries to solicitors. I have trained legal executives and solicitors. I and those I have employed have also done a lot of pro bono work at an inner city law centre and mentored kids at an inner city school. Is that enough or do you want more blood?

Grandma70s

Most European countries have higher tax rates than the U.K. - and better services. In Denmark it’s nearly 56%.

This.

`You have provided a service and charged your clients for doing so. What have you actually produced?

Germanshepherdsmum

Whitewavemark2

It is called “pulling up the ladder”

No it isn’t. It’s called having provided the ladder for more years than you care to remember, and dare I say far more of the rungs than most, and being unwilling to pay more than what is currently still demanded and will be until my last breath - when inheritance tax will rear its ugly head.

How have you provided a ladder?

Do you pay additional rate tax Applegran? Or just basic rate? Or none?

GSM thank you - I do already give to various charities and I agree it is an important thing to do. However, I would still be glad if all of us who can afford it were asked to pay a bit more tax. No government gets everything right - or acts just how I would choose - but it is the government which should be taking an overview to take appropriate action for the wellbeing of the whole population and acting to help people in need, and the NHS and schools and more - and all this means money. And I would prefer them to raise money from tax rather than doing more borrowing or more private finance initiatives.

No is the short answer.

If there were a levy to pay extra direct into the NHS, yes, rather like the Social Care levy on Council Tax.

What’s the problem with means testing Katie, if people are being given taxpayers’ money?

No because I do not believe any politician would honour the promised direction of the extra funds they raised. Promises, promises.........

Yes.
Council tax should be rebanded with at least one prob two upper tiers. Essential, because public services financed by local councils need a broader tax base.
Health and social care need restructuring and this will cost in itself but should not be shirked and be given to a competent team who’ll stay to see it through. Dusting down the Dilnot Report might be a start. A restructured system will then need more money of course

Whether we like it or not, if we want to maintain services, those with wealth will have to pay, the only alternative is to cut services, maybe means testing.

We’re not going to get a choice.

OH and I both pay 40% on part of our pensions and consider we are comfortably off. Even if we have to pay for care in the future our children will inherit a decent amount and they are treated generously whilst we're alive. We both give to our chosen charities. We think we're lucky. We've had good educations, decent jobs but we've made lots of money from our homes and the homes of our parents. I'm very happy to pay more tax and to contribute to society. Much of what we have wasn't the result of hard graft but just being born in the right place at the right time to the right parents. Inheritance tax creates such a divide between those who have and those that don't. I'd like to raise it considerably.

Germanshepherdsmum

Of course, politicians could be reading this thread. They do monitor social media. Be very careful what you say …

They definitely read mums net as there is an article doing the social media rounds regarding what they think of Rishi Sunak…