HouseHold Charge database to be used to collect Rabbitt's new "TV Tax"

[Deiseblue]

I would imagine the basic social welfare payment is next on the list . It's the only thing left that hasn't been cut yet.

The basic weekly social welfare payment was reduced in Budget 2010.

 

[jackswift]

Combining the two in to one is a logical step. Like it or not.

As regards RTE I remember an old media lecturer in college whom also worked in RTE stating that the amount of dead wood and waste in the organisation was amazing. Also the sums needed to consistently produce programs of quality were far in excess of what RTE could ever hope to raise. This is why the vast bulk of their programming are radio shows that are filmed. We just don't have to pool of viewers to fund such an organisation.

If RTE cut the enormous salaries they are paying their employees then they too could survive on a shoestring budget like tv3 and tg4. Better still why don't the Government sell it off to a private company.

It's only worrying for those who intend no paying their taxes.
Bear in mind that this tax change nothing for those 85% who have been paying their tv license.
I don't see any issue there.

No change for those already paying you say. You can be sure when they incorporate it with a property tax the two will increase in price. In a few years will will be funding a higher % of the wages of RTE fat cats

 

[ajapale]

They have that database already. Its called the Land Registry.

I don't think the land registry "database" is in a format that is useful for tax collection purposes.

 

[T McGibney]

It's obviously a lot easier for the State to compel or incentivise people to enter their own personal and property data onto a centralised database than to attempt to extract this data from another source. That said, Land Registry records are in the public domain and it is a fact that Revenue routinely consult them in audit cases. That's why I am a bit bemused by the idea that the household charge procedure is a new erosion of privacy.

 

[so-crates]

The Land Registry would give no indication of waivers and exemptions, would make for a sizeable amount of heated outrage.
Shame it isn't simple to extract energy from such a source, we'd be energy self-sufficient in a jiffy if we could do that

 

[z107]

It's obviously a lot easier for the State to compel or incentivise people to enter their own personal and property data onto a centralised database than to attempt to extract this data from another source. That said, Land Registry records are in the public domain and it is a fact that Revenue routinely consult them in audit cases. That's why I am a bit bemused by the idea that the household charge procedure is a new erosion of privacy.

It becomes an erosion of privacy when the data is used to collect other taxes. If (or rather when) the household charge is significantly increased, this could also be regarded as an erosion of privacy as the tax payer entered their details for a much lesser amount.

Far easier not to enter any details. We are obliged to pay the charge, not compile a database for the government. If you really want to hand your money over to people who are richer than you are, visit your local office to pay.

 

[ajapale]

It's obviously a lot easier for the State to compel or incentivise people to enter their own personal and property data onto a centralised database than to attempt to extract this data from another source.

I agree but would suggest what is necessary is a modern searchable computerised real time relational database (with unique identifiers for each person and for each property). Unfortunately from what I know of LR it would be very difficult for it to fulfill any of these functions.

 

[roker]

What happens to pensioners who have a free TV license?

 

[werner]

It is the prerogative of a state to levy taxes. What these taxes are called - TV licence, broadcast charge, income levy -, how they are charged and collected and the justification for them is up to the state to define.

In a representative democracy, which we still are, the elected government makes these decisions and if the electorate is unhappy with the decisions taken in their name, then they can vote them out at the next election. The fear of being voted out is generally sufficent to keep the elected government from taking decisions which are un-explained or too unpopular.

Of course we are in a somewhat difficult position as the previous government allowed the economy to crash spectularly and as a consequence we have lost control, temporarily I hope, over our finances - however it is still the case that the government can raise whatever taxes and charges it likes.

So the fuss over the TV license or broadcasting charge is a red herring IMHO

Far from being a red herring it is really a tax on technology! Not what is required in a country that is supposed to be a centre of excellence for I.T. etc

The current government despite pre-election promises to the contrary (they spoke some major fibs!) have enacted the exact same policies as their predecessors, now what they are proposing is to increase state bureaucracy and costs to taxpayers by multiplying the various stealth taxes making government more inefficient instead of streamlining things.

In a fair society instead of multiple stealth taxes that target the most vulnerable the government should use basic simple and equitable progressive taxation e.g. raise revenue to pay for things by increaseing personal taxation so the wealthiest would pay the most while the poorest the least, presumably that would make things too simple and fair!