A study by YouGov on behalf of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has found that people in every region and age group of the UK, including the wealthiest households, believe the tax system to be unfair.
The study of more than 2000 people found that just 7% felt Britain’s tax system got the balance right between the amount of tax paid by the rich, the poor, and those in between. Even for those households with an income of more than £100,000, only 13% believe the balance is right.
Exactly three quarters of those surveyed argued that it was too easy for the very rich to get out of paying a fair level of tax, with the majority (52%) of rich households – those earning in excess of £100,000 – in agreement.
Big companies were highlighted as significant offenders in the poll, with nearly seven out of ten respondents stating it was too easy for big companies to avoid paying a fair level of tax, and 57% disagreeing with governmental moves to reduce tax on the profits of large organisations.
The TUC is currently campaigning for tax justice, and recently held a seminar at Church House in Westminster featuring speeches from Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee, Peter Hain MP, and tax expert Richard Murphy, which was supported by 13 organisations including Action Aid, Oxfam and the Tax Justice Network.
Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, said an ‘astonishingly large majority’ of people thought the current tax system was unfair, and highlighted it was far too easy for the biggest companies and the most well-off to get out of paying a fair amount of tax.
He continued: “The public knows every pound that the rich do not pay has to be made up by ordinary people’s taxes or by cuts in public services. Creating a fairer tax system does not mean a higher tax bill for ordinary workers. Instead, clamping down on tax avoidance and closing the loopholes enjoyed by the super-rich will put extra revenue into ordinary peoples’ pockets or pay for our hard-pressed public services.
“The millions of voters who are feeling the pinch from rising prices and mounting bills will welcome a Government stand on justice for taxpayers.” n
