Yes, for everyone paying tax
Yes, for everyone that needs to submit a tax return
Yes, but only for those standing for public office
No, it's private
No.
Almost everyone has to file every year here (Tax season keeps thousands of accountant's in business) and there's no reason why my tax information should be made public.
Imagine going on a first date, and she already knows exactly how much money you make!
But if I made a bucketload (I don't) then it's a plusOriginally Posted by TeePee
Because if you're a professional burgler, it makes suitable marks easy to find from the comfort of your own living room.
For example.
Last edited by roachcoach; 17-04-2012 at 09:32 AM.
People get judged on the shoes they wear, the phone they have and the car they drive. There are people who are living their lives their way and want to spend the money (however much, or little!) differently.
Why should you know how much money people earn? Why should you have the right to look up on what people are doing? If there is an issue with what people are doing or they are in a position of authority or power then people should be able to request it - like freedom of information act. However, you think because someone files a tax return you should see it but if someone is on PAYE you shouldn't? Seems unfair to me just because people are paid via different methods.
I don't think that anyone's tax returns should be made public; I personally believe that just because a person happens to be in a position of responsibility does not make then any less entitled to a degree of privacy.
I do however think that expenses should be more transparent but until the system is sorted there will always be those who take advantage.
But what about in the case of Ken Livingston, he has publicly criticised people for "not paying enough tax", he has accused other candidates of not, yet it turns out he is the worst offender.
I'd say its similar to the case of some who campaign about childrens, make laws limiting what you can do, such as teaching of sex ed in class. Then when their child, gets nocked up, it becomes public information. Its an odd one, it starts private, but when pundits start bringing these private matters to the public eye, its public.
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The whole witchhunt of Ken is down to the fact that Boris has no policies. However that is a discussion for a different thread.
I think with this idea it raises privacy issues and absolves the government of any responsibility to coming up with fairer system.
Last edited by pp05; 17-04-2012 at 06:50 PM. Reason: stick to the topic
It will never be sorted as long as its MPs, or a vote by MPs, decides what happens.
They just need to simplify it.
Every MP as a contractor, a fixed set rate of pay (somewhat job role dependant), and theyre expected to pay for their own staff, office supplies etc, only an office would be supplied free.
No, its not anything to do with Boris at all.
Its about integrety.
If you went out and said anyone who doesn't receieve their income in via PAYE is a bad person, and you were not reciving my income via PAYE, that makes you a damned hypocrit. Ken has also mislead people about this.
Its a very simple example of demonstrating he isn't fit for office. Now obviously in that one case I think its a great example why people in public office should have their accounts made public.
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A politician who says something that reflects the mood of the time isn't anything new. Don't they have some kind of register where conflict of interest is registered? I feel the word avoidance is to strong here. There is an argument about the ethics behind it all but one could just as easily say he sought advice from an accountant / financial planning professional and that was the advice he was given. The revenue haven't made a complaint about it.
Do you mind me asking if your a Ken advocate? Personally I consider him one of the least fit candidates for office, and hate him even more because I'm going to have to vote for a bonking baffoon. (Wrong lizards and all). I really despise Ken for this lie.
I think its incredibly relevant what a candidate says, and how they act. Lets not forget he cast the first stone on this topic. I think its interesting to see a very wealthy person like Borris (who described his £300k pa as "Chicken Feed" or some such) avoids less tax than someone like Ken.
It gives you an insight, if someone is such a liar, and thats what he appears to be, what else will they lie about?
If someone claims to have principles in some areas, but doesn't infact have any, I think thats a very important fact for the electorate.
So when someone attacks a profesion you are reliant on for a large part of your income, claims you should pay more tax, but then turns out to pay less tax than you, on more money, shouldn't you have a right to know?
The rules regarding the conflict of interest register are too weak in my mind, the same way their expenses rules are. I bet there are plenty who lie on the conflict of interest, yet not their taxes. There is a joke amongst small business owners, think nobody cares about your firm, forget to pay your VAT and find out. The same way a company I'm a sole owner of, with money my ideas have earn't, isn't able to buy me with my company money half the things an MP claims as an expense.
HMRC on the otherhand doesn't care who you are, and it comes after you hard. As such few politictions break the rules with it, and even fewer lie to it. Thats why I think its a good idea having censored versions of their returns published.
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Saracen (18-04-2012)
Tax returns are between me and the inland revenue...
and not the public.
if I do it wrong, they tell me... if I need help I ask an accountant and pay for the help.
Simples: The electorate has a right to know where, how much and from whom their elected officials. are receiving moneys. This is so we have a chance of knowing who is feathering their bed for private gain at our expense.
Saracen (18-04-2012)
But what if you run for public office?
And as in the case of Ken start bringing up other candidates tax.
In this particular case its a "those in glass houses should not throw stones at the people in brick ones".
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