4 ms·

I only skimmed over the article... but being from the UK, I've never understood the tax system in the US. In the UK I work for an employer, so I have a single s

by kamjam 14y ago

I only skimmed over the article... but being from the UK, I've never understood the tax system in the US. In the UK I work for an employer, so I have a single source of income like the vast majority of people. The employer must pay their portion of the tax and at the same time they pay my portion of the tax. At the end of the year I get a P60 which states my income for the year, how much tax I have paid and under which tax code I paid. Assuming I only have the single job, there is nothing else for me to do. If I have a secondary income (and I was inclined to declare it) then I would have to file a return with this info, I think it is all done online now. I guess it just has always been the norm over here in the UK and so no one complains about it...

hp50g 14y ago
It's hell in the UK if your tax affairs are more than simple. I have three incomes, two with benefits and own a limited company. Tax return is hell as I'm on PAYE with two companies (yes this is legal). Usually end up owing HMRC a grand or two and have to spend 5 days a year working it all out (I won't hire an accountant as they're shysters and I've been screwed by two so far - bring on RDR).
- kamjam 14y ago
  I think it's hell everywhere, the UK is not alone in this... tax law is complex, hence the reason big corporations take advantage of it!
EliRivers 14y ago
Complain about it? What's to complain about? Compared to others, the majority of people in the UK have it remarkably easy. As you say, each month the tax is taken off your pay and sent directly to the taxman, and that's it. Zero effort on the part of the person being paid. If you've got more complicated affairs, you have to do some paperwork, but that'd be also true if the UK had the US system; it's very easy for most. There's a middle-ground to be found between easy taxes and telling the government everything. The UK government knows monthly pay and takes tax from that accordingly. If one has any other taxable income, or any reason why one should pay less tax, it's up to that individual to tell them. This makes taxes easy (most people never talk to the tax office at all), and maintains privacy.

by kamjam 14y ago

hp50g 14y ago

It's hell in the UK if your tax affairs are more than simple. I have three incomes, two with benefits and own a limited company. Tax return is hell as I'm on PAYE with two companies (yes this is legal). Usually end up owing HMRC a grand or two and have to spend 5 days a year working it all out (I won't hire an accountant as they're shysters and I've been screwed by two so far - bring on RDR).

kamjam 14y ago
I think it's hell everywhere, the UK is not alone in this... tax law is complex, hence the reason big corporations take advantage of it!

EliRivers 14y ago

Complain about it? What's to complain about? Compared to others, the majority of people in the UK have it remarkably easy. As you say, each month the tax is taken off your pay and sent directly to the taxman, and that's it. Zero effort on the part of the person being paid. If you've got more complicated affairs, you have to do some paperwork, but that'd be also true if the UK had the US system; it's very easy for most. There's a middle-ground to be found between easy taxes and telling the government everything. The UK government knows monthly pay and takes tax from that accordingly. If one has any other taxable income, or any reason why one should pay less tax, it's up to that individual to tell them. This makes taxes easy (most people never talk to the tax office at all), and maintains privacy.