A YouGov poll commissioned by the pressure group Compass has demonstrated overwhelming public support for the government to close in on personal tax avoidance which is estimated loses up to £15BN of public money each year.
The results reveal that 77% indicated they agree that the government should do everything it can to close this £15 billion gap lost through personal tax avoidance.
In further support of the Compass call for greater tax fairness in the 2009 Budget:
- 71% agree with a new wealth tax on earnings above £250,000;
- 61% agree that the Government should break its 2005 manifesto commitment not to increase any rates of income tax and immediately introduce a new top rate of income tax for all those earning above £100,000 per year;
- 52% agree with a new tax on all bonuses above £1000.
With the financial crisis and with public borrowing rising fast the poll results pile even more pressure on the Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling and embattled Prime Minister Gordon Brown to ensure the government delivers greater tax fairness in the forthcoming Budget and therefore that any necessary tax increases are imposed on the very wealthy.
Gavin Hayes General Secretary of Compass said
There can be no turning back to the pre-crash tax system, this poll vindicates what we’d thought all along, delivering greater tax justice is both radical and popular: whether it’s closing in on personal tax avoidance, introducing a new wealth tax on those earning over £250K, immediately introducing a new top rate of tax on all those earning over £100K or a new tax on bonuses, these are just the sort of measures the government needs if it is to win back voters. The Chancellor must now demonstrate he’s on the side of the many not the few, it’s time he stood up, took decisive action and made sure the wealthy pay their fair share.
He’s right.
Thanks for reading this post.
You can share this post on social media of your choice by clicking these icons:
You can subscribe to this blog's daily email here.
And if you would like to support this blog you can, here:
“71% agree with a new wealth tax on earnings above £250,000;”
Why not be in favor of it if they think they are going to benefit.
how many people who make that much money are in favor of a new wealth tax? In the US anyone can pay more than they are required to do so. Very few do.
Fred, what is your point here? Are you saying that any decision about tax rates for high earners should only be made by the high earners themeselves? That the view of the 71% should be disregarded? Just asking.
James,
My point is, who is to say that taxes should not be raised on those earning lesser sums? In the US it is well publicized that the lower half of wage earners pay little or no taxes. Why shouldn’t the Government raise taxes on everyone’s salary? That would be fair and impact people according to their level of income. It would more fairly distribute the pain of paying for Government and Government services.
Take two wage earners earning £10,000 and £1,000,000. Instead of the Government just targeting those earnings above £250,000 with a 1% ‘wealth tax’, target everyone with a 1% tax. The person earning £10,000 would pay an additional £100 and the person earning £1,000,000 would pay an additional £10,000 in tax on top of what he had already paid on his earnings. In the chance that my lower number is too low, a person earning £50,000 would pay an additional £500.
The Government would bring in much more in tax than by taxing the wealthy alone as well as remind everyone that there is a price to pay for the services they receive. If the Government requires more revenue, that everyone should chip in. They maybe more people will be interested in what the Government is spending their money on.
Fred
You have moved into the world of oppression in this comment
Your comments make no economic, social or fiscal sense
They are a recipe for social disorder
I have allowed this comment now to show just how inept much opposition to tax justice is. I will not allow it to be repeated. That just wastes people’s time
Richard
Richard,
How do you define tax justice?
@min
You will find it helpful to have a read of this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_Justice_Network
Thanks Jim
Forgotten about that page….
Richard
Given that less than 1% of the population earn £250,000 or more I’m surprised that 71% isn’t a lot higher. It’s simply asking someone, “Do you believe that people who earn more than you should pay more tax?” Unsurprisingly most people will say “yes”.
Should the government take “every step possible” to recoup the tax “lost through tax avoidance” is a highly loaded question, so again I’m surprised that the figure is not higher.
More fundamentally, do the people asked know what a wealth tax is, and how it would operate?
As for a new tax on bonuses, £1,000 p.a. is hardly a lot, and do people seriously think that bonuses won’t be reclassified as normal wages/salaries?
James, if we were governed by the majority in opinion polls the first thing that would happen is that hanging would be restored. There would probably be a change of government every month too.