Married Tax Relief

[claytonx]

Should married people get extra tax relief as they did in the fiftys

[Benipete]

Of course they should,There has to be some good points.

[gynn]

Originally Posted by claytonx

Should married people get extra tax relief as they did in the fiftys

In a word, No. It's a throwback to the days when father got the 8.21 to the city dressed in a suit and bowler hat, mother stayed at home wearing a pinny and baking scones for tea, and the children were seen and not heard.

If the argument is that tax incentives encourage family life, what a load of rubbish. You can't bribe people to live in a certain 'ideal' way. You provide the conditions where it happens naturally. Like ensuring there are enough employment opportunities for bread winners, and by providing attractive and affordable education choices etc etc etc.

[MargaretR]

..

[ToffeeGuy]

I think it's less about a financial incentive to get married, after all no one will get married for an extra £50 or whatever a year. It's more about sending out a message from government that marriage brings social stabilty. This is arguable.

[Kazzie]

I think that they should, why should people who choose to be single be eligible for more benefits, when people who are married and live together get less? Many a time me and my husband have joked that we would be financially better of if I moved out with the kids so at the moment our government is making it easier to live as a single parent and not a married couple.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by ToffeeGuy

I think it's less about a financial incentive to get married, after all no one will get married for an extra £50 or whatever a year. It's more about sending out a message from government that marriage brings social stabilty. This is arguable.

Everything, however dumb, is arguable, from Sasquatches to aliens, to trickle down economics. But I don't see what marriage has to do with social stability And I don't think marriage can be sold as a patriotic act. Get married for the good of England (or country of your choice.) Come to think of it, what is the legal definition of marriage in the UK? Does it encompass same-sex unions?

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Eric

Everything, however dumb, is arguable, from Sasquatches to aliens, to trickle down economics. But I don't see what marriage has to do with social stability And I don't think marriage can be sold as a patriotic act. Get married for the good of England (or country of your choice.) Come to think of it, what is the legal definition of marriage in the UK? Does it encompass same-sex unions?

It does now, but cohabiting isn't covered, I know a few people who have come unstuck when their long time partner has died without leaving a will, nobody thinks about making a will until its too late. Its actually surprising that about 60% of people in this country don't have a valid will, it leads to all sorts of trouble for those left behind

[cmonstanley]

ye ye ye

[annesingleton]

My son and his partner and my daughter and her partner have been together for a lot of years and have provided their children with a stable and secure family upbringing. They would not marry in order to receive tax relief. Marriage is not necessarily the benchmark for a stable family life and in my opinion the current Prime Minister is too keen on sound bites rather than action possibly to take the pressure off more important things.
It sounds to me like more upper class rhetoric to deal with social problems which really people in power have no true concept of.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by annesingleton

My son and his partner and my daughter and her partner have been together for a lot of years and have provided their children with a stable and secure family upbringing. They would not marry in order to receive tax relief. Marriage is not necessarily the benchmark for a stable family life and in my opinion the current Prime Minister is too keen on sound bites rather than action possibly to take the pressure off more important things.
It sounds to me like more upper class rhetoric to deal with social problems which really people in power have no true concept of.

Cohabitation is fine Ann so long as you dot the I's and cross the Ts

[ToffeeGuy]

Originally Posted by Eric

Everything, however dumb, is arguable, from Sasquatches to aliens, to trickle down economics. But I don't see what marriage has to do with social stability And I don't think marriage can be sold as a patriotic act. Get married for the good of England (or country of your choice.) Come to think of it, what is the legal definition of marriage in the UK? Does it encompass same-sex unions?

Marriage is basically a contract. Like any contract, it provides stability. Like in employment or business a contract gives some legal protection in income and rights. Of course everything could be done on trust and a handshake but I'd like the security a contract brings, in theory, to do things like borrow money for a house or grow my business.

[gynn]

Originally Posted by ToffeeGuy

Marriage is basically a contract. Like any contract, it provides stability. Like in employment or business a contract gives some legal protection in income and rights. Of course everything could be done on trust and a handshake but I'd like the security a contract brings, in theory, to do things like borrow money for a house or grow my business.

It's nice for the married couple to have a secure contract in law. Doesn't explain why they should be given a penny more in tax breaks than anyone else.

[Mancie]

I don't think there will be a big increase in weddings just for the sake of a few extra quid in tax relief..but at the same time I don't think married people should be discriminated by getting lower state pensions and such.. any tax relief would be good..but the way this government go about things they would likely fund any married tax relief by making cuts to working families who may not be married.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Kazzie

why should people who choose to be single be eligible for more benefits

Everyone's born single.

Some choose to marry.

The less independently minded, needy types, usually.



Tax relief?

They already get a shed load of presents on tying the knot, what more do they want?