Agree or disagree?

[JimC]

And, given human nature, it would be sheer lunacy to make them voluntary...

[Cormac]

And, given human nature, it would be sheer lunacy to make them voluntary...

Quite.

[Cormac]

Drew, do you really think the Beatles paid 95% of their income in taxes?

Look into the tax rates of the UK during the 1970s. Tax rates at 90%+ are not hyperbole.

That's not what I asked.

The tax rates were that high. The Beatles made enough to pay that rate. They claimed that taxation levels were that high for them and that's what inspired them to write that song. So yes. Though perhaps they managed to avoid it on income they made from foreign markets.

And tax shelters, etc., with the end result that they kept most of their money. It's a spiral. Tax rates set, rich folks find loopholes, etc., taxes raises to reflect the fact that they're not paying their share, they find more loopholes, buying politicians to create them, and the tax rates go up again. Ad infinitum.

I'd hazard a guess that they did pay this tax, until they discovered it

After that, they'd have hired savvy financial planners, and removed themselves from the tax net. This is inevitable when the state acts so so stupidly as to kill the golden goose. Better to milk the cow twice a day than to butcher her and eat the meat.

With regard to loopholes, the standard, and incorrect response is more rules. This is the only way a bureaucracy knows how to respond. But more stakes in the ground creates more gaps between them. The answer is to simplify. Remove the wiggle room. Fewer rules, rigorously enforced.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

You don't think the tax lawyers went to them? "I can save you X million quid a year."

[Drewish]

You don't think the tax lawyers went to them? "I can save you X million quid a year."

First off, we've let their case go, because you are not able to produce the evidence. So we have now moved on to a hypothetical case, and how best to address the fact that the wealthy will often find loop holes.

[Cormac]

You don't think the tax lawyers went to them? "I can save you X million quid a year."

Not before they wrote that song...

afterwards... no bloody doubt about it

The 60s and 70s are full of stories about unfortunate bands whose incompetent management either fleeced them or screwed up tax returns leaving the bands working to simply pay taxes owed...

[Gawdzilla Sama]

You don't think the tax lawyers went to them? "I can save you X million quid a year."

First off, we've let their case go, because you are not able to produce the evidence. So we have now moved on to a hypothetical case, and how best to address the fact that the wealthy will often find loop holes.

Sigh.

[Coito ergo sum]

Drew, do you really think the Beatles paid 95% of their income in taxes?

Look into the tax rates of the UK during the 1970s. Tax rates at 90%+ are not hyperbole.

http://www.ifs.org.uk/bns/bn25.pdf

...and, of course, now the argument to justify the 95% tax rate is that they really don't pay that much.... in previous tax discussions, of course, you'll find that other side of the debate being very sure that Buffett's secretary "really" pays her marginal tax rate...which of course is much higher than the 15% Buffett says he pays...

[Drewish]

Drew, do you really think the Beatles paid 95% of their income in taxes?

Look into the tax rates of the UK during the 1970s. Tax rates at 90%+ are not hyperbole.

http://www.ifs.org.uk/bns/bn25.pdf

...and, of course, now the argument to justify the 95% tax rate is that they really don't pay that much.... in previous tax discussions, of course, you'll find that other side of the debate being very sure that Buffett's secretary "really" pays her marginal tax rate...which of course is much higher than the 15% Buffett says he pays...

OF COURSE THE SUPER WEALTHY DON'T PAY THAT MUCH... more than once. Of course the small business owner, who sometimes has boom years and sometimes bust years, and can't afford to hire an army of lawyers, lobbyists, or accountants get screwed. If Buffet really cared, he'd be calling for a simplified tax code to close the loopholes. But no, he says to just up the rate, and the mindless Democrats fall in line, not realizing that they're voting for subjugation to government backed corporate monopolies under the guise of "fighting evil corporations." And the stupid goes on.

[Coito ergo sum]

Drew, do you really think the Beatles paid 95% of their income in taxes?

Look into the tax rates of the UK during the 1970s. Tax rates at 90%+ are not hyperbole.

http://www.ifs.org.uk/bns/bn25.pdf

...and, of course, now the argument to justify the 95% tax rate is that they really don't pay that much.... in previous tax discussions, of course, you'll find that other side of the debate being very sure that Buffett's secretary "really" pays her marginal tax rate...which of course is much higher than the 15% Buffett says he pays...

OF COURSE THE SUPER WEALTHY DON'T PAY THAT MUCH... more than once. Of course the small business owner, who sometimes has boom years and sometimes bust years, and can't afford to hire an army of lawyers, lobbyists, or accountants get screwed. If Buffet really cared, he'd be calling for a simplified tax code to close the loopholes. But no, he says to just up the rate, and the mindless Democrats fall in line, not realizing that they're voting for subjugation to government backed corporate monopolies under the guise of "fighting evil corporations." And the stupid goes on.

No better public relations for a rich guy than to call for a higher tax rate. Then all the left leaning folks are luck, "that Buffett, he's one of the good guys."

[Jason]

That's fucking ambiguous. I'd tell Roosevelt to stuff it.

[Drewish]

[tattuchu]

I think taxes are a nest of hairy weevils.

[Jason]

I think taxes are a nest of hairy weevils.

Until the invention of energy-matter conversion, I'm afraid it's taxes or communes.

I still want a say in what taxes I pay.

[JimC]

I think taxes are a nest of hairy weevils.

Until the invention of energy-matter conversion, I'm afraid it's taxes or communes.

I still want a say in what taxes I pay.

In a democracy, you can cast your vote, and choose a party whose tax policy you can live with. As always, you are choosing the lesser of two weevils...