A tax by any other name

[threaded]

Cobblers, read Article 36 of the Vienna Convention. The Yanks should pay.

[expat]

I am with the US Embassy on this one - CC charge is certainly a tax - US embassy does not really have a choice as they have been located in the center of London for longer than Ken was mayor.

One question I have though is this - do they pay BBC tax, road tax etc?

Do they pay M6 Toll Road Tax?

[AtW]

Do they pay M6 Toll Road Tax?

M6 toll is not a tax - its a service offered by the private company who build this private road. It also does not principally inhibit driving - if you dont like M6 Toll then just use M6 (its not that bad now), where as Ken offers choice - either pay tax or don't drive there at all.

[expat]

M6 toll is not a tax - its a service offered by the private company who build this private road. It also does not principally inhibit driving - if you dont like M6 Toll then just use M6 (its not that bad now), where as Ken offers choice - either pay tax or don't drive there at all.

You have a choice: pay CC or don't bring your car into central London.

Same question as before: if it were a toll barrier would it still be a tax?

[AtW]

Same question as before: if it were a toll barrier would it still be a tax?

What is a tax? According to Wikipedia it is defined as:

"A tax is a charge or other levy imposed on an individual or a legal entity by a state or a functional equivalent of a state (e.g., tribes, secessionist movements or revolutionary movements). Taxes could also be imposed by a subnational entity."

Is the company that makes money from M6 Toll a state or its functional equivalent? No - its a private company, thus the money they want is not a tax. Ken however gets the money from CC charge thus its a tax.

[expat]

What is a tax? According to Wikipedia it is defined as:

"A tax is a charge or other levy imposed on an individual or a legal entity by a state or a functional equivalent of a state (e.g., tribes, secessionist movements or revolutionary movements). Taxes could also be imposed by a subnational entity."

Is the company that makes money from M6 Toll a state or its functional equivalent? No - its a private company, thus the money they want is not a tax. Ken however gets the money from CC charge thus its a tax.

OK. So if it were outsourced ... ?

[AtW]

OK. So if it were outsourced ... ?

Its who the beneficiary that counts - the tax may be collected by a private company (like it happens with CC), but its just work under contract - the beneficiary is the state in case of CC, and thus its a tax - no doubt about it.

Personally I think the CC charge is probably the best way forward, its probably one of a better way of taxation, but its still a tax.

[AtW]

You should have used some other toll in arguement - M6 toll is private, so its not tax for certain, however in some places in the UK (Scotland?) they have toll bridges that are owned by the council, so question is whether its a tax or not?

I'd say its PROBABLY not tax - its a very specific charge for a very specific service, say when BT was owned by the Govt the prices it charged were not really tax, it was charge for service.

So, question is why CC charge is tax? Because CC is too generic - CC is about giving right to travel in wide area, this is very similar to Road Tax, which appleis to the whole country.

So, either way I look at it its a tax, kudos to US Embassy for not chickening out on this one.

[Mailman]

Cobblers, read Article 36 of the Vienna Convention. The Yanks should pay.

Article 36 is a moot point as it has already been agreed between the receiving state (The United Kingdon) and the sending state (America) that no taxes are due.

Solly...close but no cigar!

Mailman

[threaded]

What makes you say it is a tax? The money doesn't go to any government body as tax does.