Yeah Right !.....

[bazwillrun]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32027525

Our eussr slavemasters (gromit loves that one..dontcha !) have been trying to get us to "harmonize" our vat for yonks (up not down)..so theyll get their way when and if these clowns get to run the show, theylll force it on us like everything else they dictate...and then Ballsup and his other circus act pals have already got their ready made excuse.. "well we didnt do it , it was them lot that made us do it , honestly guv !"

[Gromit]

Baz,
The first thing the Conservative Chancellor did on getting the keys to No.11 was to hike VAT from 17.5% to 20%, so you are on dodgy ground with your scaremongering.

There is already harmonisation of VAT in the EU. There is a range between what a member country can set. At the moment the minimum is 15%. This is to stop countries like Luxembourg undercutting everyone else by setting a reduced rate.

[Gromit]

No EU country member state is going to give up its ability to set its own taxes. It will never happen.
If it did, you could bet your house that it would be the same rate as in Germany and France, neither of whom have a higher VAT rate than the UK.

[bazwillrun]

"No EU country member state is going to give up its ability to set its own taxes. It will never happen. "

youre not being serious are you ?.....sheeesh you are !

We arent discussing what the tories did or didnt do, its what the labour spending circus will do and how they will allay the blame

[bazwillrun]

"There is already harmonisation of VAT in the EU. There is a range between what a member country can set. At the moment the minimum is 15%. This is to stop countries like Luxembourg undercutting everyone else by setting a reduced rate. "

so they already are dictating tax rates to the countries its ruling !

[Gromit]

They have set a minimum rate that a country must set VAT to avoid one country undercutting the rest. But the range is broad. The bigger economies like the UK, France and Germany have very similar rates at 19-20%, while the Scandinadian countries are more like 25%. Raising tax cuts demand, so countries like Germany would not accept a 25% rate.

EU harmonisation could affect the exemptions to VAT. We currently have a long list, bigger than most other countries. The EU could try to cut our exemptions.

[dave50]

Better to raise indirect taxes (VAT) than income tax. At least you have choice in what you spend.