Petrol Prices

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Phil A, Aug 9, 2013.

  1. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    Your's included I'm afraid, "M", since probably none of your £35 went on the roads that you use, and went, more like, into the MP's Bar Fund.:snork:
     
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    • "M"

      "M" Total Gardener

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      Tax is tax, Pete. It is never a "sideline": it is a very calculated, and lucrative (if handled right) commodity.

      If the tax was not put onto fuel, it would be taken from peoples wages. People do not want to pay high taxes on their hard earned. No Government is rushing to implement high taxation (if they can possibly avoid it).
      But, it does have to come from somewhere.
      When smoking was prolific, it provided a nice little earner to the exchequer. So successful has the "No smoking" message been, they now have to find that deficit from somewhere: cue drivers!

      In my mind, it is all swings and roundabouts.
       
    • "M"

      "M" Total Gardener

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      Maybe, I don't know (for certain; I can only speculate). But, I believe I'm correct in saying that your statement could be applied to more taxes than just road tax ;)
       
    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      Well get a bigger car and pay your dues then:biggrin:
      I'd be feeling really guilty if I was you.
       
    • "M"

      "M" Total Gardener

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      Guilty: for what? :scratch:
       
    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      As you say "M" tax is tax, at least when its taken as income tax we know how much the government are taking.
      I often wonder how much buying power a pound earnt actually has, take away income tax then VAT, then all the special taxes on other items bought.
      I bet a pound only actually buys about 30p of product, the government take the other 70p.

      No wonder industry is struggling.
       
    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      Tax avoidance:biggrin:
       
    • "M"

      "M" Total Gardener

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      :lunapic 130165696578242 5:
       
    • ARMANDII

      ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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      I'd agree about the "Swings and Roundabouts" analogy, M, if the Swings and Roundabouts were of the same size.......but they're not. VAT is a constant on all purchases except Fuel. Fuel is the most heavily taxed commodity of all and why?, because of Governments recognise that Fuel is the Cash Cow. The now abandoned Fuel Escalator to the tax proportion on fuel up to 81% but public anger and recognition of the high level of tax forced them to back down.
      We pay two taxes on fuel [a] VAT and Duty paying per Litre roughly 23p VAT and around 58p per litre Duty. Also in there is a Hydro Carbon tax so the Government seeks every excuse and opportunity to add on more tax which the excuse that the revenue will go to Green Causes or on recognisable high priority and much needed projects.
       
    • "M"

      "M" Total Gardener

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      But fuel isn't simply road user dependent.

      It is also business dependent, household dependent; economy dependent.

      Worse: we have to buy it in!

      The argument is far bigger than merely road users.
       
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      • ARMANDII

        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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        I haven't limited the definition of the term "Cash Cow" in the use of Fuel Tax to just road users, M. What you say is true, and that's why I said earlier that the Government do recognise that Road Tax is the one true "Cash Cow". The term "Fuel Tax" is a misnomer as it should really be renamed as the Milk Tax because of the universal use of the tax to cover all aspects from domestic to business..........but the real point is is the astronomical rate of tax fair?
         
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