8 ms·

Pierre, my question: The income tax rate for high earners in France is crazy high. Have you considered moving?

by brador 14y ago

PierreA 14y ago
don't believe everything that is written in the newspapers, it's only for the super-rich :-) I think that France is one of the best place for authors (Ireland is the best one I think) Indeed there is a specific status for authors in France and tax rate is much better that if it was a salary. So actually I'm considered as an software author in France because I sell nothing, I just give to Apple the right to sell my apps and they gave me royalties. I don't even own a company.
- PierreA 14y ago
  don't believe everything that is written in the newspapers, it's only for the super-rich :-) I think that France is a good place for authors (Ireland is the best one I think) Indeed there is a specific status for authors in France and tax rate is much better that if it was a salary. So actually I'm considered as an software author in France because I sell nothing, I just give to Apple the right to sell my apps and they gave me royalties. I don't even own a company. To give you a number I think I pay 35%/40% of taxes, and for me I'm really happy to pay (honestly if you pay a lot of taxes it is because you earn a lot). Note that it includes social security and retirements. The issue with some people that have a lot of money is that they don't realize how others people live and they always want more. I did not have a lot money 3 years ago so for me it's really OK to pay.
purplelobster 14y ago
I wish people were a little bit more patriotic about paying taxes. Well, provided the taxes go towards good things. It's so frustrating to see businesses getting rich on the back of a country's resources and infrastructure, only to abandon it when it's time to pay back.
- paulhauggis 14y ago
  Taxes are one thing. Greater than 50% is theft.
  - DigitalJack 14y ago
    50% is just a number, and without reference to what is received in return has no meaning. $500,000 for a car could be considered theft, until you see it is an italian supercar. Then it may not seem so out of kilter, depending on your values and point of view.
    - paulhauggis 14y ago
      "50% is just a number, and without reference to what is received in return has no meaning." Paying more than 50% of the money I earn to the government is theft. It doesn't matter what I get in return because I really have no choice in the matter. "$500,000 for a car could be considered theft, until you see it is an italian supercar" You aren't forced to purchase that sports car, so I would hardly call it theft.
      - cookingrobot 14y ago
        50% is just a number. By even your own definition paying 1% would be theft if it's done against your will. But this is a democracy, so you do have a kind of choice in the matter. Also - a way to think about high tax full-service countries is to think of them like an all inclusive resort. It costs more, but the drinks are free.
        ericd 14y ago
        It's significant because that's the point at which the govt is getting more than you for your work. That's why it feels wrong to many, and is not just like any other number.
      - obstacle1 14y ago
        50% is an arbitrary number, not an actual threshold demarcating theft. Why is 49% not theft but 50% is?
grecy 14y ago
Believe it or not, high income earners in other parts of the world are very happy to pay "crazy high" taxes. Those countries provide a hell of a lot to their citizens, and the citizens are happy to pay. For most of his life in Australia, my Dad, a teacher, paid very close to 50% income tax on what he earned over about $60k. He was extremely happy with this, as Australia had provided a lot for him and his family of 3 kids. We had a very good uppder-middle class life. EDIT: A couple of examples of what "crazy high" income tax gets you. 1. My brother broke his leg horribly, required multiple surgeries, ambulance rides, helicopter rides, multiple hospitals and close to 2 months in hospital. There was never a bill. 2. My 5 years of university for Software Engineering were paid for by the Australian government, and I now have a interest-free loan for the ~$24k. Whenever I earn over $40k/year, I just pay 3% more income tax to pay off the loan. If I don't earn that much in Australia, I never pay back the loan and that's fine. (actually, my Mum and Dad are angry about this - for them, university was free like High school.) 3. The Australian government will pay a "wage" to low-income students going to university/college (approx. $176/wk) 4. The Australian government pays unemployment benefits to any adult out of work (approx $228/wk). It does not matter if you have ever had a job or been fired or not. This payment will continue forever.[1] They will also help to pay your rent, with a program called "Rent Assistance" Despite what you might be thinking, Australia has a very strong economy - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Australia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Australia [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unemployment_benefits#Australia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unemployment_benefits#Australia UPDATE: Dole is $228/wk
- tmh88j 14y ago
  >Believe it or not, high income earners in other parts of the world are very happy to pay "crazy high" taxes. >Those countries provide a hell of a lot to their citizens, and the citizens are happy to pay. When you have a $600k per year income, those services aren't necessarily as valuable as they are to someone who makes $60k per year. Seems that I've upset some people. Have you forgotten that international business does exist?
  - enraged_camel 14y ago
    This is extremely short-sighted. While the person themselves may not directly benefit from those services, they benefit from the fact that those around them do. For example, if we assume that the $600k is an employer (pretty common), then having employees who have received good public education is good for their business.
vellum 14y ago
The 75% tax rate is for people making over $1 million euros[1]. If you make below that, you pay 45%. [1]:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_France#List_of_taxes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_France#List_of_taxe...
grego 14y ago
Going off in a tangent, it isn't necessarily the taxes that keep startups down: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/10/think-were-the-most-entrepreneurial-country-in-the-world-not-so-fast/263102/ http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/10/think-we...

Pierre, my question: The income tax rate for high earners in France is crazy high. Have you considered moving?

by brador 14y ago

Pierre, my question: The income tax rate for high earners in France is crazy high. Have you considered moving?

don't believe everything that is written in the newspapers, it's only for the super-rich :-) I think that France is one of the best place for authors (Ireland is the best one I think) Indeed there is a specific status for authors in France and tax rate is much better that if it was a salary. So actually I'm considered as an software author in France because I sell nothing, I just give to Apple the right to sell my apps and they gave me royalties. I don't even own a company.

PierreA 14y ago
don't believe everything that is written in the newspapers, it's only for the super-rich :-) I think that France is a good place for authors (Ireland is the best one I think) Indeed there is a specific status for authors in France and tax rate is much better that if it was a salary. So actually I'm considered as an software author in France because I sell nothing, I just give to Apple the right to sell my apps and they gave me royalties. I don't even own a company. To give you a number I think I pay 35%/40% of taxes, and for me I'm really happy to pay (honestly if you pay a lot of taxes it is because you earn a lot). Note that it includes social security and retirements. The issue with some people that have a lot of money is that they don't realize how others people live and they always want more. I did not have a lot money 3 years ago so for me it's really OK to pay.

purplelobster 14y ago

I wish people were a little bit more patriotic about paying taxes. Well, provided the taxes go towards good things. It's so frustrating to see businesses getting rich on the back of a country's resources and infrastructure, only to abandon it when it's time to pay back.

paulhauggis 14y ago
Taxes are one thing. Greater than 50% is theft.
- DigitalJack 14y ago
  50% is just a number, and without reference to what is received in return has no meaning. $500,000 for a car could be considered theft, until you see it is an italian supercar. Then it may not seem so out of kilter, depending on your values and point of view.
  - paulhauggis 14y ago
    "50% is just a number, and without reference to what is received in return has no meaning." Paying more than 50% of the money I earn to the government is theft. It doesn't matter what I get in return because I really have no choice in the matter. "$500,000 for a car could be considered theft, until you see it is an italian supercar" You aren't forced to purchase that sports car, so I would hardly call it theft.
    - cookingrobot 14y ago
      50% is just a number. By even your own definition paying 1% would be theft if it's done against your will. But this is a democracy, so you do have a kind of choice in the matter. Also - a way to think about high tax full-service countries is to think of them like an all inclusive resort. It costs more, but the drinks are free.
      - ericd 14y ago
        It's significant because that's the point at which the govt is getting more than you for your work. That's why it feels wrong to many, and is not just like any other number.
    - obstacle1 14y ago
      50% is an arbitrary number, not an actual threshold demarcating theft. Why is 49% not theft but 50% is?

grecy 14y ago

Believe it or not, high income earners in other parts of the world are very happy to pay "crazy high" taxes. Those countries provide a hell of a lot to their citizens, and the citizens are happy to pay. For most of his life in Australia, my Dad, a teacher, paid very close to 50% income tax on what he earned over about $60k. He was extremely happy with this, as Australia had provided a lot for him and his family of 3 kids. We had a very good uppder-middle class life. EDIT: A couple of examples of what "crazy high" income tax gets you. 1. My brother broke his leg horribly, required multiple surgeries, ambulance rides, helicopter rides, multiple hospitals and close to 2 months in hospital. There was never a bill. 2. My 5 years of university for Software Engineering were paid for by the Australian government, and I now have a interest-free loan for the ~$24k. Whenever I earn over $40k/year, I just pay 3% more income tax to pay off the loan. If I don't earn that much in Australia, I never pay back the loan and that's fine. (actually, my Mum and Dad are angry about this - for them, university was free like High school.) 3. The Australian government will pay a "wage" to low-income students going to university/college (approx. $176/wk) 4. The Australian government pays unemployment benefits to any adult out of work (approx $228/wk). It does not matter if you have ever had a job or been fired or not. This payment will continue forever.[1] They will also help to pay your rent, with a program called "Rent Assistance" Despite what you might be thinking, Australia has a very strong economy - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Australia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Australia [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unemployment_benefits#Australia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unemployment_benefits#Australia UPDATE: Dole is $228/wk

tmh88j 14y ago
>Believe it or not, high income earners in other parts of the world are very happy to pay "crazy high" taxes. >Those countries provide a hell of a lot to their citizens, and the citizens are happy to pay. When you have a $600k per year income, those services aren't necessarily as valuable as they are to someone who makes $60k per year. Seems that I've upset some people. Have you forgotten that international business does exist?
- enraged_camel 14y ago
  This is extremely short-sighted. While the person themselves may not directly benefit from those services, they benefit from the fact that those around them do. For example, if we assume that the $600k is an employer (pretty common), then having employees who have received good public education is good for their business.

vellum 14y ago

The 75% tax rate is for people making over $1 million euros[1]. If you make below that, you pay 45%. [1]:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_France#List_of_taxes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_France#List_of_taxe...

grego 14y ago

Going off in a tangent, it isn't necessarily the taxes that keep startups down: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/10/think-were-the-most-entrepreneurial-country-in-the-world-not-so-fast/263102/ http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/10/think-we...