OT New tax coming.

Bill

I think you misunderstand the purposes of taxes and duties. They exist to raise revenue, not to be fair.

Colin Bignell

The purpose is to raise revenue. That doesn't exclude the possibility of the tax being fair. I don't see why a pensioner who does 3,000 miles a year should pay the same road tax as a sales rep who does 100,000.

Governments use taxes for social engineering purposes; for modifying our behaviour. If all the tax was on fuel people would drive less, and more economically, which is just what they want for various reasons.

Bill

Well they do not have to if they drive a lower emmison car than the rep.

but that's achange of policy. Outside Slough there is a set of traffic lights- the first set of phased ones so you could drive without stopping. some years ago the phasing was altered to make the cars stop and start - this was done to increase Treasury revenue. Only lasxt year was the proper phasing restored.

They'll have a job finding a car that pays a road tax that is lower per mile than the rep - unless it's a city biscuit box.

Tax on fuel would have the great advantage that they could dismantle all the red tape involved in handling tax discs.

Andy

In message , harry writes

It says they are "considering a proposal"

Do you REALLY think that it's possible to go from ideas to a managed toad taxing system in less than 24 months

stick to the cartoons - more on your level

Why shouldn't they? The mileage difference is more than accounted for by fuel duty. I know w few pensioners who can afford to pay far more tax than any sales rep.

MBQ

MBQ

In message , geoff writes

Its a completely crazy idea since toads rarely have any money anyway

I don't think that is true. They will still want to know who the owner is, etc. and the tax disc gives them the opportunity to try to force that to be checked every year.

And they're bloody bad drivers (based on a sample of one).

Yes, they make a right ol' mess of the ball.

As I said on one of the other groups this week I can't see any government giving up a revenue stream that easily.

If tax goes on fuel the tax disc will be called something else or replaced by a fee for doing a electronic check on MOT and insurance. Initially a lowish figure but a few budgets down the line will have increased substantially . So you could end up paying a substantial charge plus the fuel duty.

G.Harman

Bureaucracies do not reduce themselves.

And stop having a registered keeper, the details of which are checked at least once a year when the VED is renewed? The 'red tape' should be minimal now everything is computerised.

They might have kept an old car a long time, because of only doing low mileage.

Bill

I'm thinking of my friends, retired farm workers, who are living on a pathetic pension and yet have to drive 16 miles to the nearest shop.

Bill