Scope price increases

[beamer3.6m]

I agree with the tax band increase, but this will only come back to haunt us all in teh future anyway - what they give with one hand they take away with another (all parties, this is not a political statement).

As for closing loopholes I am not so sure. Not only the super rich can use them but they are the only ones who choose to do so.

[RichieJarvis]

Yeah - you heard about the other part of that - a 45% tax band for those earning over 150k? Thats nice - now why don't they help the rest of us poor folks who earn under that, eh?

[beamer3.6m]

Yeah - you heard about the other part of that - a 45% tax band for those earning over 150k? Thats nice - now why don't they help the rest of us poor folks who earn under that, eh?

It will help, as the reduction in VAT now (whether this helps or not is another story) will be paid for with the increase in tax on high earners.

Whilst I see the idea I do think it is a little unfair - those people may earn more than most but they work for it so why should they be funding us. Surely it is the lower pond life that take so much out of the economy. You take some pikey on benefits who gets all expenses paid whilst they drink, smoke and watch Sky TV - that is where our money is going and it is these spongers who need to be reigned in not the Doctors,Surgeons, Lawyers who work hard and earn well.

Cut back on benefits, get people out to work, and see the economy grow - unfortunately people have more insentive to be on benefits that earn.

[ChrisEdu]

The super rich are the only ones that can afford the tax specialists and lawyers to advise them on how to wriggle out of paying. Ok - you could live abroad, etc, but then you'd need money to keep coming back to work.

Yes, what they give with one hand they take with trhe other, often taking more than they originally gave. I really believe they need to cull some of the Quangos and jobs for the boys', rather than keep establishing bodies and inventing positions for their chums.

[kev 102 42]

my gripe is when you get to the checkout and they bang on the VAT just put the full price on at the start thank you.....kev

i use private health care provided by my work,don't drink and don't have sky tv,i agree there are loads of lazy work shy spongers out there who give us proper ill people a bad name......kevlol

[ChrisEdu]

Yeah - you heard about the other part of that - a 45% tax band for those earning over 150k? Thats nice - now why don't they help the rest of us poor folks who earn under that, eh?

Whilst I see the idea I do think it is a little unfair - those people may earn more than most but they work for it so why should they be funding us. Surely it is the lower pond life that take so much out of the economy. You take some pikey on benefits who gets all expenses paid whilst they drink, smoke and watch Sky TV - that is where our money is going and it is these spongers who need to be reigned in not the Doctors,Surgeons, Lawyers who work hard and earn well.

What about the nurses, teachers, and many others that work blo#dy hard and don't get anywhere near as much? Yes, they choose to work in those careers but without them we'd have problems!

[beamer3.6m]

The super rich are the only ones that can afford the tax specialists and lawyers to advise them on how to wriggle out of paying.

Legal advice is not that pricey when you consider the savings to be made and even your local CAB can give basic advise on tax saving etc etc.

Just think of basic Tax Free Savings such as ISA's and Bonds (cannot think of the name of these but they are like a monthly lottery) which save you tax on your savings but many people do not have them. People always think that tax avoidance is putting money in the Cayman Islands but it is not always that complicated.

[beamer3.6m]

What about the nurses, teachers, and many others that work blo#dy hard and don't get anywhere near as much? Yes, they choose to work in those careers but without them we'd have problems!

Agreed, but that is a different issue.

[ChrisEdu]

What about the nurses, teachers, and many others that work blo#dy hard and don't get anywhere near as much? Yes, they choose to work in those careers but without them we'd have problems!

Agreed, but that is a different issue.

Indeed.

[ChrisEdu]

Legal advice is not that pricey when you consider the savings to be made and even your local CAB can give basic advise on tax saving etc etc.

Just think of basic Tax Free Savings such as ISA's and Bonds (cannot think of the name of these but they are like a monthly lottery) which save you tax on your savings but many people do not have them. People always think that tax avoidance is putting money in the Cayman Islands but it is not always that complicated.

Tax free savings only save tax on money you have probably already paid tax on, rather than taking the cash from source and avoiding tax, which is how some of the creative operators work. For example, if a teacher could work for the council and be classed as self-employed (on a full-time basis, not supply) then there would be more ways for them to save tax. Lots of the schemes used by the wealthy involve various investments and trust accounts.

[RichieJarvis]

Yeah - you heard about the other part of that - a 45% tax band for those earning over 150k? Thats nice - now why don't they help the rest of us poor folks who earn under that, eh?

It will help, as the reduction in VAT now (whether this helps or not is another story) will be paid for with the increase in tax on high earners.

Whilst I see the idea I do think it is a little unfair - those people may earn more than most but they work for it so why should they be funding us. Surely it is the lower pond life that take so much out of the economy. You take some pikey on benefits who gets all expenses paid whilst they drink, smoke and watch Sky TV - that is where our money is going and it is these spongers who need to be reigned in not the Doctors,Surgeons, Lawyers who work hard and earn well.

Cut back on benefits, get people out to work, and see the economy grow - unfortunately people have more insentive to be on benefits that earn.

Oh, I 100% agree. There should not be a way for folks to sit around doing nothing. Mind you, I think alot of this goes down to attitudes to work. I tend to think that even if you are on benefits, you should have to work for it if you can - maybe charity work or something.

Obviously there are examples where that is not possible, such as those who are sick. However, I see my ex-wifes new husband sitting around with a 'bad back' that doesn't stop him doing anything but heavy lifting, whilst she goes out to work, and it makes me sick. What makes me even sicker is the way that it is my maintenance money which allows them to do it, and then I get the sob stories about how they don't have any money to pay for things my daughter needs, so I have to cough up more.

Its a very very tricky subject - the problem is that you cannot distinguish the lazy workshy scum from people who have no choice, and need the benefits.

[Tiny]

Are they allowed to knock 2.5% off Vat just like that. I thought they had to get every EU country to agree to a reduction by one country of Vat or is all the EU actually knocking 2.5% off? Given the increases in food will it make much difference anyway?

[Kai]

Can i just remind people that i started this thread with the intention of highlighting the rise in Astro kit prices , please can we keep on topic and not go off on another tangent into Government taxation.

Many thanks

[Tiny]

Can i just remind people that i started this thread with the intention of highlighting the rise in Astro kit prices , please can we keep on topic and not go off on another tangent into Government taxation.

Many thanks

No problem but thought as we pay vat...

[legion48]

I can't afford a new scope...I'm still saving for that granary loaf in Tescos..

Granary!!! You was lucky. When I where a lad we 'ad to make do wi' plain!

[geoff_k]

I was in Oxford Street about a week ago and as usual you were carried along by the throng.

No recession judging by the numbers in the Apple store on Regent Street (Mind you, didn't see many boxes going out the door).

Anyway, if people buy more astro kit as a result of the VAT drop, this will mean the bad weather will never end!

[ianmwatson]

I just bought an ethos, 13mm, from telescope house for £342 (10% offer), yes it's a lot of money. It's not as much as when they first came out last year. They were nearly £500 then, and what was the exchange rate then? At current rate of exchange my eyepiece was £408 ($620), i find that very odd.

I've been an amatuer astronomer for nearly 20 years and can't remember when this has happened before.