NZ - GST = 15% wtf

[Voodo chile]

Yes 15% of the stuff we pay for here in NZ goes to the government. We may have done it to pay for all the people about to use teh superannuation but then if we cut funding on health there wouldn't be as much old people around to use it. I reckon fresh fruit & veges & meat should not be taxed or have a small ammount of tax. It should be stuff like the junk food which should retain the tax

What are your thoughts on taxing?

[Stavroforos]

VAT in Greece is 23%, so it's really not that bad in comparison.

[Heinz Guderian]

we are paying/will soon be paying 20% here in the UK. VAT is slightly different to GST. Still makes me wanna set fire to and overturn a BMW though.

[ivan_the_terrible]

Still makes me wanna set fire to and overturn a BMW though.

You always talk big, Heinz...

[Stavroforos]

Is GST for necessities?

[Heinz Guderian]

iirc (i'm going back years) the main diff between GST and VAT is at which point it is taxed. VAT starts along the chain much earlier. GST is only at retail. I think. Each country will have exceptions to what is allowed to be taxed or not. Here in the UK, books arent taxed. Or baby clothes. I think. It often changes and gets very bureacratic

[M D]

iirc (i'm going back years) the main diff between GST and VAT is at which point it is taxed. VAT starts along the chain much earlier. GST is only at retail. I think. Each country will have exceptions to what is allowed to be taxed or not. Here in the UK, books arent taxed. Or baby clothes. I think. It often changes and gets very bureacratic

Or biscuits... Soon they will be adding health foods as well

[Stavroforos]

Hmm makes sense, although almost everything I can remember had GST attached to it in Toronto.

[Richard]

Compared to many wertern countries, that's still pretty low. Bloody Australia and their 10% though...

[Pious Agnost]

Yay for National!

[Enemy of the State]

What are your thoughts on taxing?

Robbery.

[CiviC]

Robbery.

It's robbery only if the governement is uncapable to make good use if the money.

[Enemy of the State]

It's robbery only if the governement is uncapable to make good use if the money.

Firstly, what gives them the right to decide how the money is spent? Why can't I rob a bank and then spend it on something "good"? Secondly, how do you measure goodness in the first place? Where do you draw the line between good and bad use of money?

But if you are a citizen of a country where it's understood that you pay taxes, it's not robbery since it's consensual.

I didn't make any agreement...

[Voodo chile]

It's robbery only if the governement is uncapable to make good use if the money.

And i reckon the government is not using it properly. Well as least some of it

I cant find links to new sources but i remember about 3 or 4 months ago there was a thing on the nes about MPs who spend taxpayer money on things that benefit themselves only. You got bloody mps spending money on porn dvds ,overseas holidays and go to restaurants where it costs $100 per meal which ends up costing thousands when they bring their friends/family along.

Although things like the EQC are partly funded by taxpayers and are extremely useful

[Phier]

I always think its funny that people are so willing to pay a VAT on TOP of income tax.

It should be one or the other, and really it should just be VAT.

It's robbery only if the governement is uncapable to make good use if the money.

Well then its often robbery even by this definition, but really if a man robs you to pay for night school classes, its still robbery.

[removeduser_4536284751384]

I always think its funny that people are so willing to pay a VAT on TOP of income tax.

It should be one or the other, and really it should just be VAT.

Your employer should pay VAT for purchasing your labour.

[Stavroforos]

But if you are a citizen of a country where it's understood that you pay taxes, it's not robbery since it's consensual.

And the VAT you've paid gets removed from your income tax if you show all your receipts, I believe.

[Phier]

But if you are a citizen of a country where it's understood that you pay taxes, it's not robbery since it's consensual.

On a fundamental level the number of people robbing you shouldn't' matter.

[Dr. Croccer]

On a fundamental level the number of people robbing you shouldn't' matter.

It's called democracy. If you don't like it, you can leave.

[Phier]

It's called democracy. If you don't like it, you can leave.

Taxation is needed, but its the extent its needed which we differ on. You want huge % taken because you have the mistaken impression that it does better in the hands of the government. I want only enough taken that the essential rolls of the government can be fulfilled.