District Council gold diggers...

[Hitcher]

even funnier is that the weely council has deemed we will now go ona a three year valuation cycle.....
Poll tax...you pay indirectly through your landlord if you not a ratepayer...

The same thing applies to normal rates. Rentpayers and residents have the same voting rights as property owners. There's no feudalism involved.

[Hitcher]

KB is just a totalitarian dictatorship with 2 heads.

Please don't elaborate as to which is the big one and which is the little one. It's late, and I'm tired.

[Clockwork]

Poll Tax vs Rates.

Forget the politics, the practicalities are… the council knows what properties exist in its district and who owns them. If the owner wont or can't pay I understand the council can make an order to get its money from the proceeds next time the house is sold. Poll Taxes are a whole lot harder to track down and collect!!

I believe the UK gave up on Poll Tax for this reason only, a large number of people simply refused to register for it or pay it.

[Winston001]

Poll Tax vs Rates.

Forget the politics, the practicalities are… the council knows what properties exist in its district and who owns them. If the owner wont or can't pay I understand the council can make an order to get its money from the proceeds next time the house is sold. Poll Taxes are a whole lot harder to track down and collect!!

I believe the UK gave up on Poll Tax for this reason only, a large number of people simply refused to register for it or pay it.

Yes you are right, and that is why municipal local authority taxation world-wide, is based on land ownership. If you don't pay, a Rating Sale takes place. Council gets paid, plus gets a new ratepayer who is more likely to abide by the law.

It is still a grossly unfair system but as McJim has pointed out, a Poll Tax can be unenforceable which makes it useless.

[MisterD]

I believe the UK gave up on Poll Tax for this reason only, a large number of people simply refused to register for it or pay it.

There is now a compromise thing called the "Council Tax"...basically rates, but you get a discount (25% I think, it's 5 years since I left) if you're the only adult living in a property.

It would be a good start if we could just be honest and replace the word "rates" with the more honest "land-tax"...

[Winston001]

There is now a compromise thing called the "Council Tax"...basically rates, but you get a discount (25% I think, it's 5 years since I left) if you're the only adult living in a property.

It would be a good start if we could just be honest and replace the word "rates" with the more honest "land-tax"...

Yeah but unfortunately there is such a thing as Land Tax which IRD charge. Not common but it exists.

[jim.cox]

Local Authorities actually have to listen to your submissions.

'round here (Chch) they listen to the submissions - and then ignore them and do what they want anyway.

Examples? The Edgeware Rd swimmimng pool and the new rubbish collection system

[Skyryder]

Poll Tax vs Rates.

Forget the politics, the practicalities are… the council knows what properties exist in its district and who owns them. If the owner wont or can't pay I understand the council can make an order to get its money from the proceeds next time the house is sold. Poll Taxes are a whole lot harder to track down and collect!!

I believe the UK gave up on Poll Tax for this reason only, a large number of people simply refused to register for it or pay it.

Whenever the Brits have tried a poll tax it's bloody near created a revolution.

Googe Watt Tyler or the Peasents Revolt. Thatcher had a poll tax too if memory serves me right.


Skyryder

[imdying]

Please don't elaborate as to which is the big one and which is the little one. It's late, and I'm tired.

Well that's obvious, we know who's really in control.

[Ocean1]

It would be a good start if we could just be honest and replace the word "rates" with the more honest "land-tax"...

Honest would be calling it a wealth tax.

Same as every other fucking tax, it's targeted where they've got some chance of getting it paid.

[popelli]

There is now a compromise thing called the "Council Tax"...basically rates, but you get a discount (25% I think, it's 5 years since I left) if you're the only adult living in a property.

It would be a good start if we could just be honest and replace the word "rates" with the more honest "land-tax"...

and when you see the size of your council tax bill you would not want it in NZ

Its around £1500 as year for an average property or $NZ4500 - and the councils will bankrupt people to collect these taxes

the problem with council tax / rates or what ever you want to call / label the tax as is that the above average increases each year are not to cover inflation, not for increased services but to fund the huge holes in their council funded pension schemes