Can we hope?

[sir.prize]

Georgie Porgie Osborne has announced he's introducing a tough new tax raid on the well-off. Does that mean something will finally be done about the MP's who swop homes and claim taxpayer's cash to pay their rent?

The practice is often mentioned in the Press - but the loophole exists.

[anotheoldgit]

I don't think it quite works that way, politicians are a law unto themselves.

They should be attacking 'waste' instead of the well-off all the time, the well-off already pay enough in taxes, considering they take out Private Health Treatment, so are not a burden on the NHS, they send their children to private schools, so are not a drain on State Education, and the majority of them don't claim any State Benefits etc, etc.

Maybe this kind of thing should be looked into first?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2241629/Nick-Clegg-MPs-demand-inquiry-huge-payment-Booktrust.html

[pdq1]

Depends what you mean by well off: ie

1.salary > average wage
2.those who own properties worth more than £250,000
3. Joint incomes >£40,000
4. Those with savings more than £16,000...the upper figure for claiming council tax rebate

Most of the above could be classed as middle class earners. There are not enough higher earners to tax to make much difference to the pot.

[sir.prize]

Agree with that pdq1. 'Well-off' aren't my words - they come from this bloke

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4676935/George-Osbornes-two-way-budget-blitz.html

[Psybbo]

Gideon is doing that, who knew?

[youngmafbog]

Equally, if you tax the real 'well off' then you wont generate much income as they are in a minority. In addition they tend to have accountants that will simply move the money out the way or they are people with International careers who can actually live prettywell anywhere.

There is a fine line, of course labour like 98% (as they previously presided over) but they often forget 98% of nothing is nothing.

[Zeuhl]

While I believe MP abuse of expenses should be stopped, it's hardly going to amount to much of a deficit reduction which is the target Osborne is currently failing to achieve.

[bazwillrun]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/tax/9719046/We-are-coming-after-wealthy-tax-dodgers-George-Osborne-said-today.html

until one of or more of these corporations/ "wealthy people" take legal action against G.O.

He is using threatening rhetoric against people and corporations who so far have not been proven to have done anything illegal

If they are within the law then people can go all day long bashing on about the morals of it etc etc.

since when has it been anybodys duty, moral or otherwise to pay a penny more tax than they are legally are obliged to.

I was always under the impression that voluntary contributions were made to charities not greed consumed governments.

Who on here would actually pay more tax than the law says they should no matter what your profession or status ?

[bazwillrun]

please remove previous post.
posted incorrectly