Britain has become one of the most taxed countries in the world

[ChimpMaster]

Scrap the country and all its government. Let's start again.

[threaded]

I've been telling you all for years. When you add it all up, even Denmark is cheaper than the UK.

[shaunbhoy]

I don't mind paying higher tax it's when there is nothing to show for it

But there is PLENTY to show for it. We are world leaders when it comes to housing single mums, and great strides have been made in recent years ensuring that our burgeoning legion of gallant but "disabled" workers have enough wonga to be able to comfortably sit in JD Wetherspoons all day quaffing cheap lager and hobbling outside for their cheap smokes. How much of that kind of liberal altruism goes on in your nordic countries eh?

[Francko]

I dealt with my year in Switzerland by getting the client to pay for my flights back to London at weekends. (Business class flights - those were the days!)Friday afternoon about 4 pm on my way to the airport was the happiest time of the week and early mornings in Heathrow on Monday were worst.

I am enjoying it just the same way as you did.

[sasguru]

Nope, haven't noticed any of that. Associating with expats is essential to sanity. It's usually the noob expats who try to become "swiss" - after a while it becomes too much for them, and they either check into the loony bin, go back to the UK, or get to know other expats.

You have to be able to talk to people sometime, without worrying about talking too fast, using colloquialisms and idiom, or inadvertantly ( as opposed to deliberately) causing offence.

I dealt with my year in Switzerland by getting the client to pay for my flights back to London at weekends. (Business class flights - those were the days!)Friday afternoon about 4 pm on my way to the airport was the happiest time of the week and early mornings in Heathrow on Monday were worst.

[NotAllThere]

But unfortunately every foreigner feels the duty of becoming "swiss" himself to keep up the long-time tradition. Have you started hating all these expats already?

Nope, haven't noticed any of that. Associating with expats is essential to sanity. It's usually the noob expats who try to become "swiss" - after a while it becomes too much for them, and they either check into the loony bin, go back to the UK, or get to know other expats.

You have to be able to talk to people sometime, without worrying about talking too fast, using colloquialisms and idiom, or inadvertantly ( as opposed to deliberately) causing offence.

[Francko]

Admittedly the downside. But only 4 out of 5 people you meet are likely to be Swiss. And considerably fewer in any business environment.

But unfortunately every foreigner feels the duty of becoming "swiss" himself to keep up the long-time tradition. Have you started hating all these expats already?

[tim123]

[QUOTE=scooterscot;320856]It's true I tell you. Comparing to Norway which folks believe is expensive. Well I've news for you filling up the car here is 10p cheaper per litre, buying drink in the supermarkets is about the same as in tescos, housing is way cheaper, QUOTE]

What has the price of housing got to do with tax?

And Norway is expensive. Go into the supermarket and fill your basket with the normal everyday stuff that you have to buy to live on (and consequently only a very small part of the price is tax). You know, that stuff called food. If the total is less than twice the UK price I will be very surprised.

tim

[NotAllThere]

Admittedly the downside. But only 4 out of 5 people you meet are likely to be Swiss. And considerably fewer in any business environment.

[TheFaQQer]

I'll stick with Switzerland; 30.1% and 4% respectively.

But full of the Swiss.

[scooterscot]

That's because when they've uncovered an unfairness, it's always the lower payment that's unfair, not the upper.

From the OECD site, though, Norway's total tax take is 43.6% of GDP, compared with the UK 37.4%, and Norway's take for consumption tax is 7.9% compared with the UK 6.8%.

I'll stick with Switzerland; 30.1% and 4% respectively.

I know tax is higher here, however, you can see where the money is spent, public services here are light years ahead of the UK.

I don't mind paying higher tax it's when there is nothing to show for it

[NotAllThere]

It makes clear that despite Gordon Brown's repeated promise to introduce a "fair tax system", the Government has increasingly hit families and companies with ever-higher taxes, from stamp duty and inheritance tax to council tax and business rates,

That's because when they've uncovered an unfairness, it's always the lower payment that's unfair, not the upper.

From the OECD site, though, Norway's total tax take is 43.6% of GDP, compared with the UK 37.4%, and Norway's take for consumption tax is 7.9% compared with the UK 6.8%.

I'll stick with Switzerland; 30.1% and 4% respectively.

[scooterscot]

It's true I tell you. Comparing to Norway which folks believe is expensive. Well I've news for you filling up the car here is 10p cheaper per litre, buying drink in the supermarkets is about the same as in tescos, housing is way cheaper,

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.../nbrown118.xml