why is the uk the most taxed country in europe?
607872
Taxes aren't necessarily higher in the UK than in other countries.  VAT here is 17.5% whereas in Ireland it is 21%. The rates of tax on income are 0%, 10%, 22% and 40%, whereas in Finland they are 0%, 10.5%, 15%, 20.5%, 26.5% and 33.5%, plus a municipal tax of between 10 and 20% PLUS a church tax (possible maximum total taxes 57%).  In the US, some people have the Federal Tax (country level), State Tax, Municipal Tax and School Taxes to pay.  Add to this the Social Insurance, Healthcare and other deductions and it' surprising anyone gets a take home pay at all!\n\nWe haven't got it as hard as some other places.  Haven't got it as easy as some either...
577969
A flat tax is more democratic.  There would be no deductions for the wealthy, no tax loop holes.  A flat tax would have to be higher then 5 percent, probably closer to 10 percent.  You could also use a VAT, value added tax.  That is a sales tax that goes to the federal government.  A VAT could be higher on non essential goods like a BMW and lower or zero on things like milk.  You could have a 5 percent flat tax in combination with a VAT.  FYI: Germany does not have a flat tax.
483861
It is and often without even asking he consent of the Europeans when it enlarges. \nNot only, but the centralized governmental control doesn't work at all. \nNot to mention the Euro, which has caused thousands of families to end up on the edge of starvation.\nIn actual fact Europe is not working in any field.\n\nThe nations that are performing better are only those that remained outside the Euro Zone, UK being the first of them all. \n\nThen there is uncontrolled immigration from non EU countries, which is intaking millions of starved people inside EU, whose costs will eventually increase taxes on EU citizens.\nNot to mention the total lack of control on immigration from the poorest EU countries towards the richest ones, which is causing other problems. \n\nEurope to date has been a failure, in all terms!
910859
Could be many reasons.\n1 could be the De minimis rule for EU fundings.\n2....\n3...
778589
it doesnt matter where the money comes from if it is earned in the UK then you will be liable to UK tax. You would need to use an accountant to work out your tax liabilities due on any money earnt during the tax year.
433685
We pay quite a bit more taxes than most people realize.  Our employers pay payroll taxes before giving us our paychecks, we then turn around and pay taxes again on that same money.  Whenever a business making a product has to buy resources to make that product, they pay taxes which are then pushed on to us.  Conservative estimates are that taxes make up a minimum of 30% of almost every product we buy (before states tack on a sales tax)\n\nDon't forget other types of taxes, permits to build a home, registration on your car, insidiously high excise taxes on gasoline, and many many other taxes that we are used to paying (like tolls).\n\nThe federal income tax was started to fund the civil war, read more in my second included link.\n\nDon't forget that lack of representation and unfair taxes are what caused this country to break away from England in the first place.  Our forefathers would be disgusted to know that are taxes are many times higher now than under the rule of the King. :(
699529
=not sure about the UK, but here in the states not at all.  For the most part they have put in the time and have already paid state taxes on that money.
665313
The SAME REASON that we pay taxes on EVERY item we buy or use,such as groceries,gas,utilities, when we eat out at restaurants,or shop at Walmart!! EVERYTHING is TAXED!!! We LEFT England to GET AWAY from all the taxation!!! Came here,formed our own country,and WHAT DO THEY DO???!!!! The SAME THING!!! The government taxes us BECASE THEY CAN!!!!!!
291724
Its due to a lunatic politically correct government who operate a free for all policy. Other countries in Europe have a benefit system which is contribution based meaning you only get benefits if you pay into the system...the UK system will give you anything you want unless you are a tax paying law abiding English man then you have to fend for yourself. There are queues of immigrants waiting to come to the UK from France. the UK government are so frightened of being accused of being called racist that the easiest way to get whatever you want is to belong to a minority group.....The government also allows you do do whatever you want to do in the UK as long as you pretend that you don't speak English. Normal rules that apply to your average English citizen don't apply to immigrants be they black white yellow or blue.
688985
I am a U.S. citizen, but I can only speak for myself. I know that not all people fit a stereotype of their race, country, or region, but generally, I regard europeans as being more wrongfully permissive, due to their ridiculously high taxes and socialist programs. However, the coalition governments of Europe are truly superior to the crude 2-party system of the United States. The coalition governments allow ALL of the european people to be represented, whereas in the United States, only the right-wing and left-wing fringes get government representation.
205428
Well, rich people have larger / more houses so they pay more council tax than poorer people.  This is how wealth is supposedly redistributed.  In practise, rich people have accountants and lawyers and power, and try hard to wriggle out of paying taxes.  Like John Prescott.  The hypocrite.\n\nIt benefits society by giving local authorities money to spend on local issues
822666
Value added tax (VAT) is a type of sales tax. In some countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Singapore, this tax is known as "goods and services tax" or GST; and in Japan it is known as "consumption tax". VAT is an indirect tax, in that the tax is collected from someone other than the person who actually bears the cost of the tax (namely the seller rather than the consumer). As VAT is intended as a tax on consumption, exports (which are, by definition, consumed abroad) are usually not subject to VAT or VAT is refunded.\n\nVAT was invented by a French economist in 1954. Maurice Lauré, joint director of the French tax authority, the Direction générale des impôts, as taxe sur la valeur ajoutée (TVA in French) was first to introduce VAT with effect from 10 April 1954 for large businesses, and extended over time to all business sectors. In France, it is the most important source of state finance, accounting for approximately 45% of state revenues.\n\nPersonal end-consumers of products, consumers and services cannot recover VAT on purchases, but businesses are able to recover VAT on the materials and services that they buy to make further supplies or services directly or indirectly sold to end-users. In this way, the total tax levied at each stage in the economic chain of supply is a constant fraction of the value added by a business to its products, and most of the cost of collecting the tax is borne by business, rather than by the state. VAT was invented because very high sales taxes and tariffs encourage cheating and smuggling. It has been criticized on the grounds that it is a regressive tax.
894102
They are too busy giving taxpayers money away to other countries!! When Gordon Brown made his speech about making poverty history,the UK was not included.Poverty,along with just about anything else in this country,does not exist in Gordon Browns eyes! Sadly, it does.
817131
The Uk has many 'special relations' with many countries and corps.\n\nMost of the corps are british multinational corps like BA, Areospcae (or what ever its called)\n\nThey countries we most get on with (other than the US) are European, like France and Germany, where they are so big and can effect the EU so much we have no choice but to have good relations with them.\n\nOther than that, we just keep people sweet, just incase we need anything.
847660
The United Kingdom, one of the most highly industrialized countries in the world, lives by manufacture, trade, and financial and commercial services. Apart from coal and low-grade iron ore, some timber, building materials, hides and skins, and natural gas and North Sea oil, it has few natural resources. Agriculture provides 60% of the food needed with only 1% of the labor force. The remainder of the UK's food and most raw materials for its industries have to be imported and paid for largely through exports of manufactures and services. The United Kingdom is in fact one of the world's largest markets for food and agricultural products and the fifth-largest trading nation. Vast quantities of imported wheat, meat, butter, livestock feeds, tea, tobacco, wool, and timber have been balanced by exports of machinery, ships, locomotives, aircraft, and motor vehicles. The pattern of exports is gradually changing, however. Post World War II reduction in output of textiles—once a leading British export—due to competition from Asia, and in coal output, because of competition from oil and new mines in Europe, is being offset by industries such as electronics and chemicals. A major source of earnings is the variety of commercial services that stem from the UK's role as central banker of the sterling area. Shipping, income from overseas investment, insurance, and tourism also make up an important part of the economy.\n\nI would like to add , Tea is not grown in the Uk.We import the tea and maybe make the packaging!
76763
I believe the main reason is economic.  \n\nA lot of Poles/Czechs etc move to UK to work and earn money to send back.  Most of these actually move back to their home countries once they have earnt some good money.\n\nThere are some Roma/Gypsy people who move to the UK for persecution reasons.
779091
Well dear - the Americans do rather better than the British on this one.  Not only do they get paid more - but when they are serving in Iraq, they do not pay income tax - now that should really get you mad!  But I'm afraid that it has always been so - remember the saying 'over-sexed over-paid and over here'\n\nBut this is the problem with the British Government - they want to have a £1000 000 soldier but only pay him peanuts\n\n\nSorry below - there is not legislation at present that permits the waiver of income tax for British forces.\n\nTo J MAN:\nof course it's not a bragging right I was mearly quoting the saying and for your information I am English, lived through the war and served in occupied France with SOE - so I do know what I am talking about dear.