'Do you think you get good value from paying tax?' poll discussion

I chose "I pay in much more than I receive"

I have only been to the doctors 3-4 times in my life, i earn between 30-35k, and put in 8% of my salary to pension, so probably wont get anything when i retire.
i even go to the tip every couple of weeks because of the terribleness of the refuse collection service.
I've never been on benefits.
I own a car which is just a tax magnet.
I phoned the police once, for a car break in - they did nothing. I got a leaflet, and that's it.
I've never been caught speeding, or been spoken to by the police for any reason.
I can't think of any council services i've used recently, apart from street lights, refuse collection, gritting etc.

I suspect most people will believe that they pay in much more than they recieve, but that's one of the problems with having a poll on this site - it natuarally would attract the more sensible, tax-paying sector of society.

Maybe older people who use the NHS more might consider their answer though - the question doesn't make it clear if you mean in your whole life, or in the last 12 months or today.

I think the 'system' is set up so people pay more tax when they are working, then claim that back with increased social care (pensions, NHS etc) when they get older.
Plus, if you work for the civil service, or a teacher or whatever, surely your whole salary is coming from the tax pot anyway?

Anyway, it's going to be interesting to see the results. I predict a heavy swing to the 'i pay far more than i get' option!

Gareth_Lazelle wrote: »

That would seem to be the point though, right?

There wouldn't be much point in everyone coming out even after tax... The idea is that we all benefit from communal facilities (roads, hospitals, police, etc) and that the poor are assisted (i.e.: are net beneficiaries).

There is some truth in that, but really it just goes to show that perhaps we need to look at taxing the rich from a global perspective, in order to make simply moving away a non-solution.

You have picked me up well on that point. I had thought of expanding my post to take the point further -

"The system seems to be skewed in such a way that you are either a contributor or a beneficiary of the tax system..." And heaven help you if, after decades of being a net contributor, you find yourself in a position where you need to be a net beneficiary.

As the guy in the adverts says, "It doesn't work that way" And that is why I think the current system is heavily skewed. Everyone gets trapped within a category.

I agree about global taxation, that is well overdue. But there are many ways of reducing a tax bill without having to leave the country.

I voted 'pay in a bit more than I receive' as whilst I don't get any benefits or tax credits, I don't pay council tax either (I live with my parents) and on top of income tax and NI I'm also paying back my student loan, which to me feels like a tax as it comes out of my wages, but for a service I've already received. (I'm also still trying to get HMRC to talk to me as they've got me on the wrong tax code and I'm overpaying, but I'm choosing to ignore that for the purpose of the poll.) So apart from what I'd get anyway - the NHS, police, roadworks, rubbish collection etc - I don't get much, but I'm OK with that.

The level of tax in this country makes me feel sick. Personal tax, corporation tax, VAT, road tax, council tax, business rates, stamp duty, my god they'll even tax me when I die. And what do I get - bins emptied once a fortnight (or once a month if it snows), potholes the size of Lancashire in the road leading to my house (causing damage to my car), blocked drains which caused flooding to my garage (which the council promised to address within 21 days - that was in September). I've had enough, I really have.