Well thats as close to an admission as we are goin to get, but its a start. Everything is fair game as long as your not a rule maker, I've heard it all now.
Well from a purely ethical perspective, I honestly don't care about other people's tax affairs. It really doesn't bother me. I feel indifferent towards them. I feel this way about everyone from the social welfare fraudster to the tax dodging millionaire.
There is one exception to this however, and that is for people, such as TDs, who make the rules. When these people evade tax or make or change laws for their own enrichment or benefit, that makes my blood boil. In this case it doesn't even have to be 'illegal' to enrage me.
When I hear about TDs' multiple pensions or extravagant expenses, I feel angry.
So tax evasion is only wrong if you are good at it?There have always been, and always will be people who do nixers for cash on which they don't pay tax. Most, I suspect, do a small percentage of jobs as cash jobs - to supplement their income - while putting the majority of their jobs through their books. While I would agree that it is not legal to 'bury the VAT' I'd baulk at the suggestion that it is morally wrong. Legality/illegality does not directly equate to moral/immoral, right/wrong.
A group of people have acquired power, and they dictate how much tax people should pay. They are not gods or deities, neither are they infallible, they are politicians. In addition, people do not have any choice (legally) but to pay. How they spend our money certainly is questionable.
People who evade tax are not 'robbing other citizens'. Far worse are the politicians that waste, or misappropriate the money that is paid. They are the real thieves.
As a side point, what services am I getting for my taxes anyway? I seem to pay for everything separately, such as health care, roads, bin charges etc, etc...
I don't think it's necessarily wrong, just illegal. If one does it and is caught then there are legal consequences, fair enough.So tax evasion is only wrong if you are good at it?
Did I miss the coup? How did anyone 'acquire' power? Last time I checked they were elected in democratic elections.
The politicians are the ones that make the rules. They are far more to blame for screwing the taxpayer.Why are politicians who waste money any worse than the people who don't pay the money in the first place? Both are equally to blame for screwing taxpayers.
We're probably going to end up with that anyway, once the government has finished bailing out the banks.If everyone felt the same as you and decided not to pay tax, where would we be? No hospitals, schools, social welfare, guards. No public transport. No prisions to hold the criminals. No social services. No help for the vunerable. No rubbish collection on the streets.
Democracy is not perfect but any system of government would require taxation so the above argument is specious.A group of people have acquired power, and they dictate how much tax people should pay. They are not gods or deities, neither are they infallible, they are politicians. In addition, people do not have any choice (legally) but to pay. How they spend our money certainly is questionable.
Yes they are, that’s exactly what they are doing.People who evade tax are not 'robbing other citizens'.
I agree but the latter does not excuse the former.Far worse are the politicians that waste, or misappropriate the money that is paid.
Roads, infrastructure, police, defence forces, fire service, street lighting, traffic management, parks, hospitals, schools, universities, judicial system, museums, art galleries, the Civil Service, etc etcAs a side point, what services am I getting for my taxes anyway? I seem to pay for everything separately, such as health care, roads, bin charges etc, etc...
A dictatorship isn't perfect either.Democracy is not perfect but any system of government would require taxation so the above argument is specious.
No they're not.Yes they are, that’s exactly what they are doing.
I'd like to point out that successive Irish governments have gradually eroded our infrastucture. We started off a hundred years ago with an extensive national rail network, and a tram system for Dublin.Roads, infrastructure, police, defence forces, fire service, street lighting, traffic management, parks, hospitals, schools, universities, judicial system, museums, art galleries, the Civil Service, etc etc
Then get involved and try to change things.A dictatorship isn't perfect either.
If I'm being forced to pay taxes, I want to do it in a fair system, not a corrupt banana republic style system.
You don’t cover anywhere near the full cost of any of the things above that you say you pay for. I agree with most of your posts but to be honest I think the ones on this thread are complete nonsense.I'd like to point out that successive Irish governments have gradually eroded our infrastucture. We started off a hundred years ago with an extensive national rail network, and a tram system for Dublin.
Much of what you have posted I would have to pay for separately. If I go to hospital, I pay, if I call a fire engine, I pay, I pay my phone bill and internet bill, I paid for water connection and sewage and rubbish collection. I pay road tax, and if I want to go to university, well that's not 'free' either. I'm not bothered if we have an army or not, I'd rather we didn't. Are art galaries 'free' to enter? I can't remember the last time I've been to an Irish one. I certainly paid when I was in ones abroad. So the police and civil service I pay for?
How about I just get my own private security guard? It could be cheaper than paying taxes.
People who evade tax are not 'robbing other citizens'.
Yes they are, that’s exactly what they are doing.
Oh yes they are! If you underpay tax by, say, €1,000, that shortfall has to be picked up by other citizens who DO pay their full taxes - maybe not this year, but maybe next year in tax increases.No they're not.
As Purple has said, this is absurd in the extreme - you pay nowhere near full cost for these services at point of use.Much of what you have posted I would have to pay for separately. If I go to hospital, I pay, if I call a fire engine, I pay, I pay my phone bill and internet bill, I paid for water connection and sewage and rubbish collection. I pay road tax, and if I want to go to university, well that's not 'free' either. I'm not bothered if we have an army or not, I'd rather we didn't. Are art galaries 'free' to enter? I can't remember the last time I've been to an Irish one. I certainly paid when I was in ones abroad. So the police and civil service I pay for?
How about I just get my own private security guard? It could be cheaper than paying taxes.
I believe what cowan has done, and is in the process of doing, is far, far more unpatriotic. He must really detest the people of this country, in my opinion.Tax evasion is one of the most unpatriotic things a person can do.
It is the ultimate expression of hatred for your country and your fellow citizens.
This thread is asking for people's opinion on people who do nixers and don't pay tax on the income.
Well my opinion is that this pales into insignificance when you look at what is going on with this country right now.
I believe what cowan has done, and is in the process of doing, is far, far more unpatriotic. He must really detest the people of this country, in my opinion.
I just read this over on the property pin:
http://www.thepropertypin.com/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=30588
(Links to this article: )
How patriotic is that? - Still think people doing nixers is so important?