The Reasons to Bin the Water Tax Bill

Date:
  • The average PAYE worker pays £3,565 in income tax each year, compared to £2,642 by the self-employed and just £575 by farmers.
  • Last year PAYE workers paid £3,030 million - up £243.8 million on 1992 - due directly to the one per cent levy imposed by the same government which promised "tax reform".
  • The tax inspectors trade union says that last year £2,500 million was outstanding in taxes, and that with increased staffing much of this could be collected.
  • Instead the government gave the rich their second tax amnesty inside five years. While we have to pay 48% they were let off with 15% and no questions asked. Hundreds of millions of pounds were simply written off, over ten times the total service charges levied throughout the 26 counties.
  • The government refuses to raise the Rate Support Grant by £35 million, which could see all local charges abolished throughout the country. Yet they had no problem finding£35 million for the beef tribunal, much of which ended up in the pockets of their barrister pals.

Conference

Wednesday August 3rd saw the Dublin Anti-Water Charges Campaign meeting in Wynn's Hotel. Delegates from over a dozen local groups discussed the next steps in building the campaign, and targeted new areas of work. A conference is being held on September 24th, by which time more of Dublin is expected to be organised. Get involved. Contact the campaign at 01-6772686.
 


From Workers Solidarity No43, 1994