UK: Tax on ‘Peace and Quiet’ Revealed
February 20th, 2007UKSSR?
Via: Telegraph:
Living near a bus stop or corner shop and even enjoying “peace and quiet” will lead to a hike in council tax for householders, under Government plans.
The tax on “nice neighbourhoods” is being planned as part of the council tax revaluation, with proposals expected within weeks.
Secret manuals by the Valuation Office Agency, an arm of HM Revenue and Customs, used in the controversial 2005 council tax revaluation in Wales, reveal that many homes near shops and public transport, with pleasant views and in quiet locations were penalised, with higher council tax bills. There are now plans for the same system to be rolled out across England.
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The handbooks were obtained by the Conservatives using parliamentary questions to force the Government to publish them for the first time.
The plan follows revelations in this newspaper that people who live in areas with good schools, clean streets and low crime rates face big increases in their council tax bills.
Home owners and tenants will be charged hundreds, and possibly thousands, of pounds extra if they live in a locality deemed by ministers and officials to be more desirable than others. The rises could be as great as four times, sending some bills from £1,000 to £4,000.
The manual shows that even mobile homes were given higher council tax bills for being located in a quiet spot or near conveniences.
I’m just waiting on the tax for being handsome. That’ll be me broke.
Don’t the things mentioned(e.g. pleasant views, low crime, good schools) basically affect the market price of a home?
In the States property tax is usually based on market price of the property. Take two identical houses&property; one on a lake and the other not, the one on the lake will have a higher tax bill.
It sounds like the Brits are just saying there a number of factors that affect a house’s tax.
Non-news really.
Actually, Smith, in the British Soviet system, the property tax will also be be based on the household spending habits:
“Highly personalised information about what families eat, drink, and earn is also taken into account.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=413301
Don’t buy that posh bottled water, your rates might increase! HAHA
“Highly personalised information about what families eat, drink, and earn is also taken into account.â€
I agree that is taking things too far.