grrr council tax (uk)

this will probably be a rant, so i'll put it in the debates section ....

i don't mind local councils, but council tax, and its predecessors, are very annoying ..
My understanding is the amount local govt receives is still dictated by Westminster.
councils that don't generate enough are topped up (please correct me if wrong).

But still there is this beurocratic system of collecting tax at a local level,
which probably works worst where most funding is needed most...

Personally i find VAT & income tax good... in i pay quite a lot but don't seem to notice.
council tax however, particularly where liability is split is a nightmare ...
it also seems hard on pensioners... i think tax on savings is fairer.

I was puzzled when we had a VAT cut to boost spending ... as the high street was already providing quite cheap goods, I would have upped VAT and done away with council tax completely ... not sure if this is possible economically? .. but i think people would have felt like they had more money.

Any thoughts? should we get rid of council tax / How would it be replaced?

Originally posted by Black Star Uchess
this will probably be a rant, so i'll put it in the debates section ....

i don't mind local councils, but council tax, and its predecessors, are very annoying ..
My understanding is the amount local govt receives is still dictated by Westminster.
councils that don't generate enough are topped up (please correct me if wrong).

But still the ...[text shortened]... ad more money.

Any thoughts? should we get rid of council tax / How would it be replaced?

Originally posted by Black Star Uchess
beurocratic system

everyone i know in Brighton who does not work for the council, dislikes them ,

it's not that they provide bad services, actually quite good ... it's just council tax .. everyone i know or there mate has had some row about it . no other tax i know causes more trouble so something must be wrong with it ...

Originally posted by Black Star Uchess
no other tax i know causes more trouble so something must be wrong with it ...

no , i remember the riots.. the council tax is by far the most oppressive tax to those on low incomes
single people and pensioners . increasingly big chunk of the population ... it is mildly better then the poll tax yes ... but still an elephant of stupidity .

Edit . it has minimal linkings to a persons wealth,
is amongst the most avoided taxes. increasing the burden on those who pay
the administration is duplicated across hundreds councils, where one could do the same function
it inefficiency creates a parasite industry of bailifs and non service council staff feeding from those on low incomes.

how many more reason can a tax be bad... compare with VAT n income tax...

Originally posted by Black Star Uchess
no , i remember the riots.. the council tax is by far the most oppressive tax to those on low incomes
single people and pensioners . increasingly big chunk of the population ... it is mildly better then the poll tax yes ... but still an elephant of stupidity .

Edit . it has minimal linkings to a persons wealth,
is amongst the most avoided ta ...[text shortened]... e on low incomes.

how many more reason can a tax be bad... compare with VAT n income tax...

I agree. Council tax is not only regressive, there is also not much incentive for councils to keep their spending at bay. It's better to fund councils from the national government instead, and replace council tax by income tax.

Feel it would be appropriate for me to comment!

I completely agree, council tax is completely unfair as it attacks the lowest income groups.

All taxation should be managed by central government

Originally posted by InlandRevenueUK
Feel it would be appropriate for me to comment!

I completely agree, council tax is completely unfair as it attacks the lowest income groups.

All taxation should be managed by central government

Originally posted by Redmike
If it is all managed centrally, what's the point of local government?

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
The local government doesn't have to tax the local population to function.

Originally posted by Redmike
No, but there's not much left of the council's role if they've no financial management role.

Originally posted by InlandRevenueUK
Feel it would be appropriate for me to comment!

I completely agree, council tax is completely unfair as it attacks the lowest income groups.

All taxation should be managed by central government

Originally posted by Redmike
I agree about the council tax, just making the point that we've had worse.

I'm for a local income tax - we'd have had such a system in Scotland, but the SNP, despite it being in their manifesto, have decided against now they're in power.