Isn’t VAT a worse tax?

Published: 11 February, 2011

• ANDREW Mennear, a Conservative, writes (February 3) about how unpopular council tax is.

Of course it is; can anyone name a popular tax? Unfortunately, however, taxes are essential to fund public services. Councillor Mennear says that council tax affects “far more people than the bankers”, but at least people on very low incomes can claim partial, or even complete, exemption from it via council tax benefit.  

Another tax whose unpopularity I would point out is VAT; yet no one is exempt from that or from the rise in it brought in by the coalition. It also affects the poorest because it is charged at a flat rate. Although initially charged only on luxuries it is now charged on essential items without which one could not live a civilised life: soap, toothpaste, washing-up liquid, shampoo, and even toilet paper!

It is, or at least deserves to be, at least as unpopular as council tax; if not more so.

MARGARET KING
Belsize Grove, NW3