#VAT is a very bad tax for poor people. It looks like a flat tax proportionate to purchases. But it's flat in proportion to expenses, not to income. Everyone needs all the basics - food, clothing, shelter, water, power - and poor people must pay the same as rich people. Progressive taxes, such […] - ThreadSky

malmorrow.mastodon.africa.ap.brid.gy • 12 days ago

#VAT is a very bad tax for poor people. It looks like a flat tax proportionate to purchases. But it's flat in proportion to expenses, not to income. Everyone needs all the basics - food, clothing, shelter, water, power - and poor people must pay the same as rich people.

Progressive taxes, such […]

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pee.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy•12 days ago

https://mastodon.africa/@malmorrow I’ve got a better idea for boosting revenue. Instead of raising taxes, let’s focus on anti-corruption measures, pay cuts in the public sector, and cracking down on ghost workers.

malmorrow.mastodon.africa.ap.brid.gy•12 days ago

https://mastodon.online/@pee Yes of course, but that more often relates to expenditure rather than revenue. Also essential, sure. And in the end, corruption and embezzlement are criminality, so they can and should be addressed through justice, not through the treasury. All of which, I readily admit, doesn't happen, so […]

pee.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy•12 days ago

https://mastodon.africa/@malmorrow sure, you're right off-course. It's a bit late ;-). What I meant is that the revenue is more than sufficient already - just plug the holes.

pee.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy•12 days ago

https://mastodon.africa/@malmorrow and perhaps increase royalties on minerals.

malmorrow.mastodon.africa.ap.brid.gy•12 days ago

https://mastodon.online/@pee Quite possibly true, and certainly true if we had a small-c conservative balance-the-budget and cut-expenditure government. Which we don't have!

leoncowle.hachyderm.io.ap.brid.gy•12 days ago

https://mastodon.africa/@malmorrow Isn't VAT typically designed to take that into account, i.e. the essentials that people need are VAT-exempt? Specifically to help those that need it the most.

malmorrow.mastodon.africa.ap.brid.gy•11 days ago

https://hachyderm.io/@leoncowle I consider that very fact to illustrate nothing more than the government's guilty conscience. They know that VAT is destructive. So they remit it on ... on what? Some popular food items, many of them sustaining but not very healthy:
* Maize meal.
* 'Government bread'.
* Vegetable oil […]

leoncowle.hachyderm.io.ap.brid.gy•11 days ago

https://mastodon.africa/@malmorrow So good in concept, but horribly implemented, you mean? Yeah, sounds about right for the definition of “government”.

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