Taxing, Isn't It!

I have just recently received a letter from the TV licensing department here in the UK. It would seem from their letter that on checking through their system that I am living in a house without a current TV licence. The reason for this is quite simple; I don't have a TV set.

Now instead of simply taking my word for it and happily going away and hassling some other poor soul I have to prove that I am not in possession of a working TV. They are within their rights to come and check my home as to whether or not I have a set, they are not however legally empowered to enter my home if I do not give them permission to do so, but on refusing them entry they will then assume I am illegally hiding an unlicensed set.

A TV licence currently costs £139.50 per year. On top of this many homes have satellite or cable (without either of these the choice is somewhat limited), for an additional £30+ per month. If to get around this by watching TV on my computer or laptop I am still liable to pay this extortionate fee, for what?

So what if I don't pay?

Well then I am liable to a fine of up to £1000.

My choice is not to watch the poor choice of TV programmes on offer in this country and to save my hard earned cash for other things more worthwhile.

This led me on to thinking how much we are taxed in this country; once I had looked into some of these it was quite worrying. Firstly we are taxed on our earnings, tax and national insurance amounts to stoppages of upwards of 30% and rising as the more you earn.

Food and clothing if VAT (value added tax), liable is currently running at 15%. It was until recently 17.5 %, but due to the state the country is in at the moment it was reduced, whenever the government sees fit they will increase it again, probably higher than it was previously to make up the shortfall.

The motorist feels it in his pocket the most, fuel to run your vehicle is expensive and about 60% of the cost is tax. We are also liable for an annual road fund license, another name for road tax. As well as having to put our cars through an annual roadworthy test, which yes you've guessed it is taxed.

The drinker, whether going to a bar, club or choosing to drink at home is taxed on their purchase; smokers are another easy target for the high taxes.

We also have a thing called council tax; the charges for this vary greatly depending on where you live, and in how big a house you reside in. The smallest charge for this is often upwards of £100 per month.

So you might ask, is there anything they don't tax you on?

What about your waste products, well we are charged for this even taxed on our sewerage and waste water charges.

But what can we get for free?

Even when you die, if you have any inheritance, particularly the way things are at the moment, your inheritance is taxed before being passed on to your dependents. If you are fortunate enough to win it big on the lottery, you will find a tax bill for that as well.