I realise that, what I mean is, Flyboy was saying that in addition to the local sales tax, there is a federal sales tax of 10%. I have travelled to the states many times, and never come across this.
No, unless flyboy knows something i don't, there's no fixed rate federal sales tax across the country.
Why is the UK and indeed European VAT rates so high compared to other non-EU developed countries like the US and Canada.
Sales Tax in the US is 10% and in Canada, its around 13% and in some states and provinces its even less than this.
Yes you could argue that we in Europe get more public services like the NHS compared to the US.
We get taxed more because we have a more socialist society, where the state does more for people. In the US, it's not uncommon for police to not attend crime scenes because of limited resources, or for people to be dependent on charities for food etc.
We aren't heavily taxed though, if you want to see a country with much more tax, look at the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland and so forth. They are also the sort of countries with the highest quality of living in the world.
No Federal Sales Tax, are you thinking of maybe the Excise tax on tobacco and alcohol, also we pay $.42 per gallon of gas? In Ohio it's different depending on the county, here it's 6.75% but no sales tax on food.
No Federal Sales Tax, are you thinking of maybe the Excise tax on tobacco and alcohol, also we pay $.42 per gallon of gas? In Ohio it's different depending on the county, here it's 6.75% but no sales tax on food.
Yes no need to rub it in, , gas (petrol) prices is one area we will never be able to compete with you guys on price.
We get taxed more because we have a more socialist society, where the state does more for people. In the US, it's not uncommon for police to not attend crime scenes because of limited resources, or for people to be dependent on charities for food etc.
We aren't heavily taxed though, if you want to see a country with much more tax, look at the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland and so forth. They are also the sort of countries with the highest quality of living in the world.
hmm it is also said that Canada has one of the highest standards of living in the world, and there tax is only very slightly higher than the US but they get most of the welfare services that we do like unemployment benefit, free health care and so on.
People in this country do not want to pay high taxes. Anyone that wants to live in the Netherlands, Sweden or Finland is free to move there as they are EU countries.
People in this country do not want to pay high taxes. Anyone that wants to live in the Netherlands, Sweden or Finland is free to move there as they are EU countries.
People in this country already are paying high taxes, that was the point of this thread.
Another little stat, I believe the worldwide average for sales tax is something like 15.6%
People in this country do not want to pay high taxes. Anyone that wants to live in the Netherlands, Sweden or Finland is free to move there as they are EU countries.
You don't speak for all people in this country - I'd pay higher tax for the sort of services they have in these countries.
hmm it is also said that Canada has one of the highest standards of living in the world, and there tax is only very slightly higher than the US but they get most of the welfare services that we do like unemployment benefit, free health care and so on.
Perhaps the fact that Canada only spends 1.3% of its GDP compared the US's 4.3% on their military might explain part of that? ($660B makes a pretty umbrella for a neighbour to hide under )
Ya, here its £5.53 a gallon which is $8.55 at current exchange rates.
65% of the price we pay in the UK is tax. If there were no tax on petrol we'd have one of the cheapest petrol costs in the world. Where does this money go? The government says schools and hospitals. If that's the case they should be the best in the world due to the amount we pay which isn't the case.
hmm it is also said that Canada has one of the highest standards of living in the world, and there tax is only very slightly higher than the US but they get most of the welfare services that we do like unemployment benefit, free health care and so on.
I don't really know much about Canada. I would hazard a guess that they benefit a lot from being right next to the US. It's like being a US state without having to pay for their military and insurance industries.
I don't really know much about Canada. I would hazard a guess that they benefit a lot from being right next to the US. It's like being a US state without having to pay for their military and insurance industries.
Seeing shops as busy as they are over last few days with people looking for cheaper stuff has got me asking what would happen if VAT was lowered to say 5% or even abolished. Would it make people go out more and purchase stuff which supports the economy - not just as Xmas time but throughout the year?
Seeing shops as busy as they are over last few days with people looking for cheaper stuff has got me asking what would happen if VAT was lowered to say 5% or even abolished. Would it make people go out more and purchase stuff which supports the economy - not just as Xmas time but throughout the year?
but surely its not just VAT which keeps prices so high in the UK, other European countries have similar VAT rates or even higher but cheaper cost of living.
Seeing shops as busy as they are over last few days with people looking for cheaper stuff has got me asking what would happen if VAT was lowered to say 5% or even abolished. Would it make people go out more and purchase stuff which supports the economy - not just as Xmas time but throughout the year?
Lowering VAT permanently won't make people purchase more in the long term, what they should do is alternate it regularly. It's the switch from one rate to the other that provides hype.
Why is the UK and indeed European VAT rates so high compared to other non-EU developed countries like the US and Canada.
Sales Tax in the US is 10% and in Canada, its around 13% and in some states and provinces its even less than this.
Yes you could argue that we in Europe get more public services like the NHS compared to the US.
But then again Canada has very similar public services like we do including a free health service and also their economy is smaller than the UK's yet they can can still keep their taxes low?
but surely its not just VAT which keeps prices so high in the UK, other European countries have similar VAT rates or even higher but cheaper cost of living.
I actually think it's a bit of a myth that everything is more expensive here in the UK compared to the Eurozone. I'd agree this was the case 15 to 20 years ago but since the advent of the Euro prices have risen quite dramatically on the continent. Things like Electrical goods, DVDs and video games are more expensive over there. For proof of this visit amazon.co.uk and amazon.de. The UK site is generally cheaper even with the pound being quite low against the Euro. Also, income tax is and VAT is generally higher on the continent. From travelling quite often the one thing i'd say that tends to be cheaper on the continent is food from the supermarket.
As posters have said, america does spend a far lower % on welfare costs than we do, and it doesn't have an NHS. I do believe though that sales tax covers everything you buy in America, whereas in the UK VAT is not charged on certain items, such as kid clothes, some foods etc.
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No, unless flyboy knows something i don't, there's no fixed rate federal sales tax across the country.
We aren't heavily taxed though, if you want to see a country with much more tax, look at the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland and so forth. They are also the sort of countries with the highest quality of living in the world.
Yes no need to rub it in,
hmm it is also said that Canada has one of the highest standards of living in the world, and there tax is only very slightly higher than the US but they get most of the welfare services that we do like unemployment benefit, free health care and so on.
People in this country already are paying high taxes, that was the point of this thread.
Another little stat, I believe the worldwide average for sales tax is something like 15.6%
That's 42 cents of tax on a gallon of gas. Haha, I wasn't rubbing it in ;-) gas is over $3.19 a gallon here now. Stupid speculators...
Ya, here its £5.53 a gallon which is $8.55 at current exchange rates.
Whoa that's crazy. Well we have lots of space here in the US come on over! :-)
You don't speak for all people in this country - I'd pay higher tax for the sort of services they have in these countries.
Perhaps the fact that Canada only spends 1.3% of its GDP compared the US's 4.3% on their military might explain part of that? ($660B makes a pretty umbrella for a neighbour to hide under
65% of the price we pay in the UK is tax. If there were no tax on petrol we'd have one of the cheapest petrol costs in the world. Where does this money go? The government says schools and hospitals. If that's the case they should be the best in the world due to the amount we pay which isn't the case.
They get all of our TV channels too haha.
but surely its not just VAT which keeps prices so high in the UK, other European countries have similar VAT rates or even higher but cheaper cost of living.
No its called rip off Great Britain, :eek::eek:
I actually think it's a bit of a myth that everything is more expensive here in the UK compared to the Eurozone. I'd agree this was the case 15 to 20 years ago but since the advent of the Euro prices have risen quite dramatically on the continent. Things like Electrical goods, DVDs and video games are more expensive over there. For proof of this visit amazon.co.uk and amazon.de. The UK site is generally cheaper even with the pound being quite low against the Euro. Also, income tax is and VAT is generally higher on the continent. From travelling quite often the one thing i'd say that tends to be cheaper on the continent is food from the supermarket.
In what way?
From the consumer point of view the taxes in North America are far lower.