What Is The Outlook For The Scottish Tax Payer?
The last few months has seen a growing spat between the UK and Scottish governments with the Scottish National Party (SNP) pushing harder and harder for independence for Scotland. They recently introduced an idea to replace council tax with a local income tax of 3p in the pound. While the move was welcomed by some, affectively ensuring that the wealthier pay for the less wealthy, critics see this as the thin end of the wedge.
Many voters are riding on the crest of the idea of independence for Scotland and all which this entails - hopefully control over oil in the North Sea, its own tax collection system and changes which would not have been possible via the UK Parliament. But are they missing the point?
There have already been claims that the local income tax idea is fraught with danger and will give councils the chance to increase the rate with less critical headlines than increases in the council tax. Once the local income tax plan has been passed to the statute books this may well be the start of the fun and games.
Scottish tax payers need to be very wary what they wish for because it might just come true!
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