Nice people thread part 4 - sugar and spice and all things

zagubov

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

We lived overseas for many years and will do so again, but the UK has done very nicely for us this time around, even in the recession.

The first time was purely for financial gain thanks to a tax free country and a full expat package. The next time will be strictly for the weather and a more relaxed lifestyle, in a higher tax country than the UK.

I don't see that moving to a slightly lower tax country in Europe is all that financially advantageous for most people. Not by the time you factor in all the moving and travelling costs. It's more about the lifestyle, and they use taxation as an excuse.

I agree - I feel that tax would only ever be one part of a decision making process. But for a lot of people moving abroad It’s probably irrelevant. Many people retire to places in Europe where they have to pay for support and care as the government doesn’t supply I from the tax base anyway. In some popular countries that British people like to retire to, they’re likely to dump you on your doorstep after an operation as soon as they need the bed. Your extended family will look after you after that. What do you mean you don’t have an extended family?

Others working in low tax contracts overseas are in very peculiar situations; they live very artificial lives with restrictions on their liberties in n places they’d rarely choose for retirement special compounds limited freedom of movement, and often a low tax rate because the country taxes its resources such as oil or gas. These are usually specialist temporary jobs and I don’t think they deserve envy or resentment.

There is something very slytherin-ish about people claiming that tax is the main reason for moving abroad- it just smacks of someone sharing your meal in a restaurant and then always leaving just before the bill arrives.

sss555s

zagubov wrote: »

There is something very slytherin-ish about people claiming that tax is the main reason for moving abroad- it just smacks of someone sharing your meal in a restaurant and then always leaving just before the bill arrives.

Though understandable when there's a hoo-ha at the biggest best table with fine dining and champagne flowing for the government, also paid by the poor old tax payer.

I've no plans to leave the UK but i do despise the UK political system.

tomterm8

zagubov wrote: »

There is something very slytherin-ish about people claiming that tax is the main reason for moving abroad- it just smacks of someone sharing your meal in a restaurant and then always leaving just before the bill arrives.

It can feel a lot like the lyrics on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Maz9ddxEQnM for a lot of people. If it were just income tax... well, not so bad, but it isn't. When you include the hidden taxes, it can feel almost like the only person you are working for is the state.

50% tax. Then 20% vat. National Insurance. Stamp duty. They even tax you on dying... council tax... business rates...

Generali

tomterm8 wrote: »

It can feel a lot like the lyrics on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Maz9ddxEQnM for a lot of people. If it were just income tax... well, not so bad, but it isn't. When you include the hidden taxes, it can feel almost like the only person you are working for is the state.

50% tax. Then 20% vat. National Insurance. Stamp duty. They even tax you on dying... council tax... business rates...

I liked The Kink's response to the Beatles song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeOa_OcB3DE

The taxman's taken all my dough,
And left me in my stately home
And I can't sail my yacht
He's taken everything I've got

The Government is going to spend about 45% of everything the country produces this year. That means if you're an average earner you'll spend roughly 45% of your time working for the Government although clearly a big chunk of that money will be spent on you.

Davesnave

The Kinks' lyrics take me back to the late 1960s when we rented a house in Kilburn from a very dodgy landlord. At that time, it was common for young men with lots of hair to take on a property, pay over a large deposit and then, within a few weeks, be 'encouraged' to leave quickly, minus the dosh. It certainly happened to my friends. Allegations were made about certain substances. Threats were made. They left.

In the case of our house, two guys were still in the Civil Service when we took it on, so we dropped this into the conversation asap. You could see the landlord's face fall. Every week he'd pop in, hoover the hallway and collect any 'official' mail. Quite often, we'd make sure the Kinks were playing that song, just in case he 'forgot.'

lostinrates

zagubov wrote: »

I agree - I feel that tax would only ever be one part of a decision making process. But for a lot of people moving abroad It’s probably irrelevant. Many people retire to places in Europe where they have to pay for support and care as the government doesn’t supply I from the tax base anyway. In some popular countries that British people like to retire to, they’re likely to dump you on your doorstep after an operation as soon as they need the bed. Your extended family will look after you after that. What do you mean you don’t have an extended family?
Others working in low tax contracts overseas are in very peculiar situations; they live very artificlal lives with restrictions on their liberties in n places they’d rarely choose for retirement Special compounds limited freedom of movement, and often a low tax rate because the country taxes its resources such as oil or gas. These are usually specialist temporary jobs and I don’t think they deserve envy or resentment.
There is something very slytherin-ish about people claiming that tax is the main reason for moving abroad- it just smacks of someone sharing your meal in a restaurant and then always leaving just before the bill arrives.

The care system is the main reason I don't want to live in Italy when we retire. We have no family, and while there are facilities I haven't seen any I'd like. It would be ok for dh....who would be taken care of ok....I, as an old foreign woman needing a lot of care...I don';t think it would be very nice.

I've loived in a couple of tax havens. It IS a fairly rank reason for leaving, but people manage to do it and have a grand old time while there, so I don't think they mind. Its only for the required time per year you even have to be there...other times you can be in UK (about a third of the year IIRC) or other places.

Its not a way I could live...we like having a ''home'' and our pets, but if you have the ''right'' lifestyle for it then its not a bad way to live, and depending on savings, not so unaffordable.

Any how...

today we've done a massive move of electric fencing and spray painted a mark on the dead trees. After lunch (had no idea it was so late already) we're going weeding again. I really look forward to a less weedy future. I think its about as distant as our move to the Cayman Islands or San Marino!

zagubov

Generali wrote: »

The Government is going to spend about 45% of everything the country produces this year. That means if you're an average earner you'll spend roughly 45% of your time working for the Government although clearly a big chunk of that money will be spent on you.

It reminds me of those various attempts in America to introduce itemised tax bills so you can see where the money went
e.g
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/05/AR2007010502421.html

Might be useful to know how much is going on various adventures and mad schemes.

PasturesNew

As a single person, without debt, I don't see any Govt money being spent on me.... and that's why I've never been interested to vote for any of them.

lostinrates

PasturesNew wrote: »

As a single person, without debt, I don't see any Govt money being spent on me.... and that's why I've never been interested to vote for any of them.

hospital for old recently?

zagubov

PasturesNew wrote: »

As a single person, without debt, I don't see any Govt money being spent on me.... and that's why I've never been interested to vote for any of them.

There was a party political broadcast based on the Monty Python Romans sketch that played on this idea. Won an election. Other parties could learn from this. Tell everyone what the taxes are spent on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POP-DjI0wvw