The official "Autumn Statement 2015" AKA "End of Contracting" thread

[d000hg]

Giving ability to councils to tax businesses will result in much higher taxes on businesses - it won't be less, it's like giving Unis ability to charge fees so almost all (even totally tulipy ones) gone to max level of £9k.

But think how much more money councils will have to spend

[d000hg]

I run a business. I reckon I am more attached to reality than most people who have no clue about employer NICs, business rates, employer insurance, public liability insurance, crazy bank rates on credit card transactions etc etc.

Yes, but you know F all about regular people. You know, like the employees you pay £85k to.

Will someone rid me of this turbulent sockie?

It's not my fault you aren't listening. He's mentioned several areas of cuts.

[MrMarkyMark]

FTFY

But think how much more money councils will have to waste

[MrO666]

So far I don't hear any bad news (other than obvious future increase in business rates by local councils)... only good news of increased expenditure - all that means the bad news will be really shocking....

I'm with you..........

[AtW]

It's not my fault you aren't listening.

I am now...

[AtW]

OK Gideon now talks about how much he milks the rich who pay more than ever...

[NickFitz]

But think how much more money councils will have to spend

Councils won't have any more. He's cut local funding from national government to the bone, and the shortfall will have to be made up by local taxation. He's calculating that people will be dumb enough to blame the resultant tax rise on local authorities, not on him. In other words, he's increasing tax by proxy so he can claim he's cutting tax, or at least keeping it level.

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

Really wish there was a way to fast forward George's speech - I am so bored waiting for him to get to the important bit

[heyya99]

Who is Gideon?

[tomtomagain]

Do you really think that many people still use paper return? Ability to fill in return by end of Jan was a big attraction, I expect 90% of those who need to fill it in are doing it online already.

Nope I don't. I have no idea though ..... might be a tonne of rich pensioners filling them in for dividends received.

Guess though that they still have to keep a whole chunk of people and infrastructure to deal with paper forms.

Getting rid of them is better .... but hardly a game changer!