tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30194186.post2389826757321779249..comments2024-02-02T10:29:34.789+00:00Comments on A Conservative's blog: Is this why Gordon's tax figures are wrong?Benedict Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01382732288664789210noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30194186.post-81433978635096091342006-12-13T21:16:00.000+00:002006-12-13T21:16:00.000+00:00Timothy, I mean simpler as in less complex.
That...Timothy, I mean simpler as in less complex. <br /><br />That said a flat tax is harder to avoid.<br /><br />I note your comments about working at the revnue. So tax laws exist to allow people to avoid tax? And then they do! How nasty of them. The point is the simpler the system the less wheezes there are.Benedict Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382732288664789210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30194186.post-40817677906538116522006-12-13T20:43:00.000+00:002006-12-13T20:43:00.000+00:00What, simpler, as in flat! Don't make me larf!
I...What, simpler, as in <i>flat</i>! Don't make me larf!<br /><br />If that's the best the Tories could come up with...<br /><br />I worked at the Revenue for a few months and most of the complexity exists either to provide ways for people to avoid paying for tax, or, to prevent people not paying tax by being paid in a non-PAYE way.<br /><br />When I hear Tories arguing for simpler tax laws I always worry that the laws they would "simplify" would be those that <i>prevent</i> tax avoidance, rather than the laws that legalise it, and subsequently get abused.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30194186.post-2282777173541119382006-12-10T20:27:00.000+00:002006-12-10T20:27:00.000+00:00yes Timothy. Personaly I am not impressed by over ...yes Timothy. Personaly I am not impressed by over complex tax laws ans what seems to me special favours for some. After all David Mills said he got a gift for tax purposes which he then later said was for work done and no gift at all. He should have been taken to the cleaners for that one but won't be because of who his wife is.<br /><br />However I think the tax laws would be easier to enforce if they were simpler. The bigger the rule book the more loopholes.Benedict Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382732288664789210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30194186.post-86913029002345538112006-12-10T20:12:00.000+00:002006-12-10T20:12:00.000+00:00Tax avoidance is a big issue - particularly in the...Tax avoidance is a big issue - particularly in the city and the sort of finance companies that are doing very well out of increased public spending.<br /><br />Most of the <i>waste</i> in public spending has been to these companies, rather then bureaucrats. It's been on IT, PFI, consultants, etc and much of it has avoided Tax, documented, as you say, by Private Eye.<br /><br />Also, I get the impression that tax avoidance is more rampant than ever in the City, and they have been doing particularly well lately.<br /><br />If a disproportionate amount of growth is from the City, then tax avoidance will increase more as well.<br /><br />Many tax havens are beholden to the UK - shouldn't something be done about it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com