Should the UK have Tax (and income) transparency

michaels

They have it in Norway:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35936521

Personally I don't see why it should be a secret and of course in terms of stopping tax avoidance and benefits cheating it would be a masterstroke.

Note: Public poll

michaels

Yes - it would help with evasion, benefits cheating and gender pay inequality

Interesting that (so far) those to the left of the political spectrum say no and those to the right say yes.

N1AK

No - It is between me and my employer and would only lead to jealousy and crime

michaels wrote: »

They have it in Norway:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35936521

Personally I don't see why it should be a secret and of course in terms of stopping tax avoidance and benefits cheating it would be a masterstroke.

Note: Public poll

I'm not that fussed either way, but it does seem like a rather dubious precedent. The examples you seem to be highlighting are reliant on the idea that the government publishing incomes etc knows about them, in which case stopping the abuse would be simple.

There's plenty of criminal behaviour that could be stopped by making previously private information public; why not make cell phone location information in public? Then the public could identify fly tippers, vandals etc. We could get rid of cash and publish all transactions in order to make tax avoidance, bribery etc impossible?

buglawton

Yes - it would help with evasion, benefits cheating and gender pay inequality

Norway has this ancient transparency ethic from Lutheran origins. Apparently, at one time people there weren't supposed to have curtains on their windows, to show they had nothing to hide. And all taxes paid were in an open book at the town hall by name (latterly online).

In a country like the UK where even mentioning your income to dinner guests is unseemly, can't see it happening. Would be transformational if it did happen of course. Let me see, all UK politicians, CEOs, local government bigwigs and benefit claimants to make public their income.
It's a good 'un.

michaels

Yes - it would help with evasion, benefits cheating and gender pay inequality

It used to be fairly tricky to find out what people paid for their house. Now it it a couple of clicks away. We would soon get used to it and I can't see a downside from people knowing. My p60 says 15900.

mwpt

michaels wrote: »

It used to be fairly tricky to find out what people paid for their house. Now it it a couple of clicks away. We would soon get used to it and I can't see a downside from people knowing. My p60 says 15900.

Presumably your ltd company earns a lot more though.

jaydeeuk1

Yes - it would help with evasion, benefits cheating and gender pay inequality

Superb idea. Which is why I can't see it happening.

michaels

Yes - it would help with evasion, benefits cheating and gender pay inequality

mwpt wrote: »

Presumably your ltd company earns a lot more though.

Strictly paye sadly. I also get bupa which is a bik of 1050 and child care vouchers 962.

mayonnaise

No - It is between me and my employer and would only lead to jealousy and crime

michaels wrote: »

Personally I don't see why it should be a secret and of course in terms of stopping tax avoidance and benefits cheating it would be a masterstroke.

Not sure how this would stop benefits cheating.
And tax avoidance is legal, if it needs to be stopped, then tax law needs changing.

Mistermeaner

No - It is between me and my employer and would only lead to jealousy and crime

michaels wrote: »

It used to be fairly tricky to find out what people paid for their house. Now it it a couple of clicks away. We would soon get used to it and I can't see a downside from people knowing. My p60 says 15900.

What's your total state funded income from your gaming of the system? Can you also provide your name and address as I would like to send you an invoice so I can reclaim some of my 35k of tax from this year off you to help provision for future of my son

mwpt

There was a company, Brazilian I think, which operated under the open salary model ++. Read a book about it. I've read books about a lot of stuff, most of which I forget.

EDIT: Google helped me remember.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Semler

Though I can't remember if it was Maverick or The Seven-Day Weekend that I actually read.