A Taxing debate

[simonnatur]

Don't know how you somehow equate social responsibility with socialism. If you put to one side the basic human trait of altruism, most people realise it IS in their own best interest to act socially responsibly.

[AlunB]

I think this is largely the problem with political discussions in general. It all becomes so polarising. For the most part I expect we all hold some views that are left wing, some that are right wing etc etc.

I really don't see how wanting a low tax environment is at odds with wanting everyone to contribute. I would have thought the two things were in agreement not conflict.

[SuuPRlim]

Don't know how you somehow equate social responsibility with socialism.

I wasn't.

I was kinda responding to the comments made ITT r.e. the UK welfare system, but mostly to woodsey's comments about being a "Raving Tory" :-D

[AlunB]

I really don't understand why anyone would feel and sense of social responsibility towards paying income tax. I think everyone is well in their rights to try pay as little as possible.

NI is a different matter, not that it goes to the right places ofc.

Sounds harsh but people should be encouraged to act legally in their best interests and not for the sake of social responsibility, IMO.

Why is NI different from income tax? It's not the 1950s, they are both essentially the same thing these days.

Also think about your last sentence logically to its inevitable conclusion. You like the way that society looks? It's a bit (lot) more complex than that IMO. But I accept that's just IMO.

[SuuPRlim]

Don't know how you somehow equate social responsibility with socialism. If you put to one side the basic human trait of altruism, most people realise it IS in their own best interest to act socially responsibly.

Just seen the edit, I never disputed that, I said that I personally don't believe that someone attempting to pay as little tax as is possible could be considered socially irresponsible.

People who say its fair that a man who earns £20,000 a year should pay £2,500 in tax and someone who earns £500,000 a year should pay £220,000 are in cloud fucking cuckoo land IMO.

[Woodsey]

I recently upped my pension payments again to avoid doing the 52% in tax on a bigger slice of my income, I guess I'm socially irresponsible   

[arbboy]

Don't know how you somehow equate social responsibility with socialism. If you put to one side the basic human trait of altruism, most people realise it IS in their own best interest to act socially responsibly.

Just seen the edit, I never disputed that, I said that I personally don't believe that someone attempting to pay as little tax as is possible could be considered socially irresponsible.

People who say its fair that a man who earns £20,000 a year should pay £2,500 in tax and someone who earns £500,000 a year should pay £220,000 are in cloud fucking cuckoo land IMO.

Paying as little tax as possible LEGALLY is totally normal.  It's not my fault that the government makes the income tax rules the way they do.  If they changed them i would just make some calculations based on the new rules and, like any business, work out whether it was logical to continue or seek to trade in other areas.

[AlunB]

I recently upped my pension payments again to avoid doing the 52% in tax on a bigger slice of my income, I guess I'm socially irresponsible   

Can someone point out where in this thread anyone said that? It just seems like this has come from nowhere to me.

[Woodsey]

I recently upped my pension payments again to avoid doing the 52% in tax on a bigger slice of my income, I guess I'm socially irresponsible   

Can someone point out where in this thread anyone said that? It just seems like this has come from nowhere to me.

I'm legally avoiding tax, just like the poker players moving to the uk.

[arbboy]

Surely taxing any system that allows play across borders that include the ability to offset losses are easily worked around. You'd just dump all your profits to your mate in Amsterdam and take a long weekend picking up your cash every month

It's interesting quite a few people had adopted the, if the law moves against you move against the law approach.

Do you think most poker pros would rather resort to borderline criminality than simply pay tax?

yes.

Have you no social responsibility?

Why shouldn't you pay tax?

Everyone else does.

This is when it was mentioned

[SuuPRlim]

I recently upped my pension payments again to avoid doing the 52% in tax on a bigger slice of my income, I guess I'm socially irresponsible  

No no no!

You're just being smart, you Tory bastard :-P

I have lots of issues with uk society.

[AlunB]

Surely taxing any system that allows play across borders that include the ability to offset losses are easily worked around. You'd just dump all your profits to your mate in Amsterdam and take a long weekend picking up your cash every month

It's interesting quite a few people had adopted the, if the law moves against you move against the law approach.

Do you think most poker pros would rather resort to borderline criminality than simply pay tax?

yes.

Have you no social responsibility?

Why shouldn't you pay tax?

Everyone else does.

This is when it was mentioned

I'm fairly sure he meant paying SOME tax not arguing you should pay the maximum amount possible.

[AlunB]

In before "I already do pay some tax"

[AlunB]

I recently upped my pension payments again to avoid doing the 52% in tax on a bigger slice of my income, I guess I'm socially irresponsible  

No no no!

You're just being smart, you Tory bastard :-P

I have lots of issues with uk society.

Get yourself to Doncaster

[arbboy]

Surely taxing any system that allows play across borders that include the ability to offset losses are easily worked around. You'd just dump all your profits to your mate in Amsterdam and take a long weekend picking up your cash every month

It's interesting quite a few people had adopted the, if the law moves against you move against the law approach.

Do you think most poker pros would rather resort to borderline criminality than simply pay tax?

yes.

Have you no social responsibility?

Why shouldn't you pay tax?

Everyone else does.

This is when it was mentioned

I'm fairly sure he meant paying SOME tax not arguing you should pay the maximum amount possible.

I do pay the maximum amount of income tax possible on my income.  Nothing.  My income is exempt from income tax.  I don't make the rules i just play by them.