Gransnet forums

News & politics

So, who votes for a government that improves the lives of Bankers, and ensures the excessive profits of energy companies, but needs all the "levelling up" money to pay for the holes in Brexit?

(384 Posts)
DaisyAnne Thu 15-Sept-22 09:55:03

Seriously, who does that? Who decided they wanted these things?

Katie59 Fri 16-Sept-22 09:42:25

Since the crash Investment banking is separated from Retail banking so any losses can’t affect consumer deposits.

Doodledog Fri 16-Sept-22 09:48:26

They don’t, however, pay NI on anything over the cap, so nothing from the bonuses funds pensions or social care or benefits - the sorts of things that make such an enormous difference to those who live on them (or who have to work for so long before being able to claim them). Are the salaries of carers paid out of NI? I’m not sure (although it seems likely), but if so the fact that bonuses are not subject to NI does directly impact on the rank inequality between bankers and care workers (as an example of different groups in a supposedly meritocratic system).

Whitewavemark2 Fri 16-Sept-22 09:52:57

Just as an aside.

Kwartang thinks bankers need more money, but thinks that doctors are overpaid..

Priorities!

MayBee70 Fri 16-Sept-22 10:21:22

There’s now talk of lifting that tax on sugar that was imposed because of childhood obesity. Strange isn’t it that Tate and Lyle were pro leave and are obviously chums with the ERG….

Germanshepherdsmum Fri 16-Sept-22 10:27:44

Doodledog, a reduced rate of NI is paid over and above the upper earnings limit.

JaneJudge Fri 16-Sept-22 10:28:59

Do you mean the salaries of paid carers or family carers?

Paid carers in the social care system are generally paid by a combination of local authority funding (through council tax) and care to contribution from their clients. There used to be funding from central government but I'm not sure if this has changed, I know it was heavily reduced

Family carers who earn less than £100 and something a week can claim carers allowance from dwp if their loved one is meets the threshold for medium/high rate dla/pip or AA afaik but it's less than £70 a week.

Thanks for explaining re tax.

Dinahmo Fri 16-Sept-22 11:13:55

FYI - the employees' NIC rate above the upper earnings limit of £50270 is 3.25%.

Glorianny Fri 16-Sept-22 11:16:26

It all depends on how the bonuses are paid. They do not have to be cash bonuses, they can include share options or investment opportunities, which would mean they would not be taxed at the same rate.
There is a strong case for a wealth tax. This is interesting check out ukwealth.tax The report of the Wealth Tax Commission. There's a short video showing how much a one-off wealth tax would bring in.

Dinahmo Fri 16-Sept-22 13:11:53

Taxing bonus shares

The following is taken from an article written for Bytestart which is a small information business site.

"The gift of shares in recognition of an employee’s performance or long service will generally be taxable in the employee’s hands as employment income. Since there is no market for most shares in private companies, the employee will need to declare this income under self-assessment, not PAYE. There should, however, be no national insurance contributions on the gift.

The income tax liability will be based on the value of the shares. A minority holding in a private company will usually be heavily discounted and is not simply a fraction of the price of the company. The value will need to be agreed with HMRC.

The company’s accountants may be able to do this, or it may necessary to employ a specialist valuer. Consideration will need to be given to the restricted securities regime if there are restrictions on the shares. It is possible to opt out of this regime.

The company can meet any tax liability on behalf of the employee; however this will give rise to PAYE and NIC obligations on the amount of tax.
Taxing share options

An alternative could be to give the employees the right to acquire options over shares in the company. There are several tax efficient share schemes that generally have the advantage of there being no up-front tax.

The most commonly adopted of these are Enterprise Management Incentives. These are relatively cheap to implement and, of particular interest, the company can impose requirements to limit which employees are able to benefit.

In order for the company to qualify, they must meet requirements as to the trade and the size and ownership of the company.

If one of the tax effective schemes is used, when the shares are sold, often there will be no income tax or national insurance on the grant or exercise of the options. When the shares are sold there will be a capital gains tax charge on the employees based on any uplift in value between the price paid and the price achieved on sale.

Capital gains are currently taxed at 20% as opposed to 40/45% for income, so there is a clear attraction for the employees. With no tax upfront, share options are often preferable to more straightforward gifts of shares."

Tuskanini Sat 17-Sept-22 11:14:47

The bonus cap is being removed because it didn't work. Banks just raised the basic salaries.

Keffie12 Sat 17-Sept-22 11:40:16

The only Brexit benefits ever were for the bankers and elite. They weren't ever going to be for us.

As for AP who said the cap should be removed it is clear to me you are in a position of having alot of money to say such a thing.

That's why I and millions of us through ex-pats and The U K fought for the 2nd referendum. Thanks to Jo Swinson it didn't happen, however that's another story.

That's why we are quietly beavering in the background (the remain alliances) are now rejoin. It won't happen overnight however it will happen. It's a 10 year minimum project

spabbygirl Sat 17-Sept-22 11:55:10

bankers don't pay full tax, there are many ways to dodge tax, like putting money in the Cayman Islands, thats why people are so cross with the tories, if they paid full tax we wouldn't have a skint nhs

Whitewavemark2 Sat 17-Sept-22 11:56:42

Tuskanini

The bonus cap is being removed because it didn't work. Banks just raised the basic salaries.

Not correct. Yes their basic salary has been raised. But threre are serious issues with removing the cap

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 17-Sept-22 12:10:25

spabbygirl

bankers don't pay full tax, there are many ways to dodge tax, like putting money in the Cayman Islands, thats why people are so cross with the tories, if they paid full tax we wouldn't have a skint nhs

Bankers pay tax through PAYE spabbygirl, like any other employee. Tax taken at source.

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 17-Sept-22 12:14:32

Keffie, do you think that somehow if the cap remained there would be money available for other people to share instead of being given to bankers?

Gabrielle56 Sat 17-Sept-22 12:16:28

Non cash bonuses will probably circumvent a lot of tax revenue. Corporate banking is not tied up with high street(ha ha!) Banking do were not put at risk as before the crash. However, do we really want to continue to be known globally as the world's launderette for filthy money?! Because THAT is the way we're viewed at moments. We are tangled up with organised crime money so badly it could be impossible to survive without it! Another gripe- can we have back some high street banks, and stop the push to make cash obsolete? Just a thought.....

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 17-Sept-22 12:32:04

Gabrielle

I think you mean investment banking, which has been fully separated from retail banking - no ‘haha’ about it. As regards money laundering, I have worked with the very tight money laundering regulations and perhaps knows a little more about them and their enforcement than you do. Don’t believe all you read in the sensationalist press or on social media.

Non-cash bonuses - share options - are not what everyone wants. Bank share prices have been in the doldrums for a good few years. If I were a banker offered share options I would rather have the cash today and pay the tax and NI.

Whilst not germane to the present discussion, to answer your point - the reason that high street banks are disappearing is that not enough people now use them to make them viable. Our local town will shortly use its last one and I fully understand why - I have never set foot in it nor used it’s cash point in all the years I’ve lived here - I bank online and use the PO for cash or paying in the occasional cheque instead.

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 17-Sept-22 12:32:55

Lose, not use.

Grantanow Sat 17-Sept-22 12:42:21

In answer to the initial question, 'Bankers, of course, and other fat cats!'. When we were pre-Brexit the EU tried to restrain bankers' bonuses by capping them across Europe including the UK. The City banks simply increased bankers' basic salaries to compensate for limited bonuses. Now we are post-Brexit the Tories can lift the bonus cap so bankers benefit from augmented salaries and unlimited bonuses. It's disgusting when so many people are visiting food banks and worried sick about their bills.

Susieq62 Sat 17-Sept-22 12:43:38

Worked in all sorts of jobs since I was 14 ! New 72 still paying tax , never received a bonus ever!!!! Never voted Tory EVER!!!!

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 17-Sept-22 12:46:49

What difference does it make to anyone but the bankers Grantanow? Do you think that the bonus money would magically be given to the poor instead? It’s not going to happen. There is an inherent dislike of people who have money in this country. Anyone who earns a high salary is called a fat cat. Jealousy, pure and simple.

GrannyGravy13 Sat 17-Sept-22 12:48:53

Germanshepherdsmum

What difference does it make to anyone but the bankers Grantanow? Do you think that the bonus money would magically be given to the poor instead? It’s not going to happen. There is an inherent dislike of people who have money in this country. Anyone who earns a high salary is called a fat cat. Jealousy, pure and simple.

There are now three current threads on GN N&P blaming the wealthy for all the ills in society?

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 17-Sept-22 12:53:31

All the usual suspects, GG. Those who don’t have it always blame those who do.

volver Sat 17-Sept-22 12:57:03

No. There are three threads running on GN N&P that you think are blaming the wealthy for all the ills in society because there are certain people with money who have chips on their shoulders and think everyone is blaming them. And seem to have no understanding of what an equitable society means or that it isn't love of money that drives most of us.

All those rich people, we don't give them a chance and we're nasty, jealous oiks, aren't we?

GrannyGravy13 Sat 17-Sept-22 13:03:42

volver

No. There are three threads running on GN N&P that you think are blaming the wealthy for all the ills in society because there are certain people with money who have chips on their shoulders and think everyone is blaming them. And seem to have no understanding of what an equitable society means or that it isn't love of money that drives most of us.

All those rich people, we don't give them a chance and we're nasty, jealous oiks, aren't we?

Haven’t seen any jealous oiks volver just posters playing the blame game without offering any solutions.