BBC NEWS | Talking Point | Can you be persuaded to pay more tax?

Chancellor Gordon Brown will be unveiling his Budget to the House of Commons on 17 April.

He is expected to announce a significant increase in spending on the NHS in future years.

Mr Brown has already reiterated the government's commitment to a "world class", publicly-funded healthcare system.

He is also expected to increase spending on education and announce additional help for low-paid workers.

It has been estimated that the government might have to find extra revenues of £13bn per year to fund its ambitions plans.

Would you be willing to pay more tax for better services? If so what would you like to see your money spent on?

Where's my receipt?

Russ, UK

I don't begrudge paying taxes, but I do wish I could see where the money was going! What's it really being spent on? Where's my receipt? The Government seems to throw around stacks of cash, to little effect. I oppose tax increases because (and only because) I can't help feeling my extra money will simply go to waste.
Russ, UK

I already pay more than enough tax, especially when all the additional "stealth taxes" that this government has introduced or increased are included. Let's see significant improvements in the services that we pay for before there is any talk of increasing our tax burden - for example my council tax has increased by 16% in the last two years, but I haven't seen anything like a 16% increase in the quality of service from my local (Labour controlled) council. This Chancellor will increase taxes because that is what Labour does - and just remember that you voted for them!
Paul, England

The Government should close the loopholes in our archaic tax system that allow the wealthiest UK residents to pay little or no tax. Why should the rest of us pay more tax when the rich are exempt?
Mark, UK

I want to see definite benefits rather than more inefficiencies

Paul R, UK

You can throw as much tax money at education, health and transport as you like, but if it's not managed properly then that funding is useless. Whilst my wife was in hospital recently I calculated that the amount of perfectly good food, wrapped and within its expiry date that was thrown away in her ward alone would have paid for one extra nurse. I don't mind paying more tax, but I want to see definite benefits rather than more inefficiencies.
Paul R, UK

Britain has one of the lowest tax revenues in Europe. So to all those people who complain about the state of the country's public services and then complain about the level of taxation, which do you value more? You might have to face the fact that you can't have both.
James, UK

I would be more receptive to the idea of increased taxation if I was not witness in my job to unbelievable waste and inefficiencies in Government agencies. My view is the Government should first learn to spend the money it has properly before coming to the electorate for yet more.
Mark Norton, UK

Where do I find an extra 1p in the pound?

Brian, UK

I want to know why we always have to persecute middle income earners. Where I live, both partners have to work to pay for a house, children then have to go into nursery and we then need a car. Our expendable income is so low we have only been on one family holiday in the past 3 years which was subsidised by a parent. We have to consider everything we put in the shopping trolley and do not go out for meals. Where do I find an extra 1p in the pound?
Brian, UK

It all depends what your priorities are. Whether you are prepared to help overcome critical shortfalls in the country's public services which will affect the lives of so many of us. Or whether you wish to line your own pocket!
Andy, England

The UK property market is in need of help. Considerably increasing stamp duty and other taxation on second homes, whether they be holiday or buy-to lets is paramount. Industry does not suffer, the poor do not suffer, spiralling house prices are controlled, and revenue is earned.
CT, UK

I think that major reforms are needed to bring ALL public services back into 'a no-profit' structure. Taxes paid should not be used to line the pockets of shareholders in companies that are set up to exploit the taxpayer. No increases in tax should be considered until we can see where the vast sums already raised are being wasted, remedies identified and the necessary changes are being made.
Mandy, UK

Whenever I watch PM's question time and the subject of taxation comes up, all I ever hear Blair say is "You get what you pay for". Anyone who has ever bought anything more expensive or complex than a Mars Bar will see this for the glib nonsense that it is. In real terms, taxes have gone up tremendously already since this government came to power, and I can't see any improvements whatsoever. Why would I be happy paying yet more?
Graham, UK

Small amounts do matter to me

Chris, UK

Being a working single parent of two teenage boys I value all of the money coming in. At present I receive working family tax credit, paying more tax will take this away from my total. Yes, we need better services, but when money is wasted by central government and local councils I would object to paying more. To politicians and mid-higher earners a penny here and there may not be noticed. However, small amounts do matter to me and others in my position. I have to struggle to afford shoes and clothes for my boys.
Chris, UK

There is an attitude in this country that you can get something for nothing - you can't. Look at the continent - they have wonderful public services but they have high taxes. Compared to most other nations we have a negligible rate of tax, especially on high income earners. The Tories squandered North Sea oil on tax cuts for the rich and they didn't even manage to reduce taxes that much for most people.
Kevin, London

Taxes shouldn't be raised. The government already squanders the billions that we are forced to hand over already, so why should we sit back and accept them taking even more?
Stuart A, UK

We cannot continue to pour good money after bad

Steve, UK

No more direct, indirect or stealth tax increases should be allowed at this time. We, "the customer", should receive a detailed explanation of how our money is spent today to ensure efficient use of the funds. We cannot continue to pour good money after bad.
Steve, UK

You get the services you pay for, and in this country we have low taxation and dreadful services. I personally would be happy to pay more tax as I think it would help make this country a better place to live. However, I suspect most people would not be prepared pay more - but then they shouldn't complain when they get stuck in traffic jams or have to pay loads for private health and education.
Ben, England

Gordon Brown has more than enough money already to pay for the spending increases he talks about. I can only conclude that the tax rises in the budget will be purely to appease the majority of Labour MPs, who have never believed in 'New Labour', and are starting to threaten the Blair/Brown power base.
Mark Rosewood, England

The ability to raise taxes has to go hand in hand with the ability to spend it in a more effective manner. However the NHS needs modernisation, and a significant evolution of the model that it operates in. Public ownership is the right place for a public health service, however best business practises need to be adopted.
John, UK

Whenever I look at my payslips or get a council tax bill my tax burden seems enormous. However, in return my children will be taught, my family healed when sick, the rubbish collected, the streets lit, the roads maintained... need I go on? Of course this sounds idealistic, but these services must work and be available to all as a prerequisite to any civilised society. As a result I'd be delighted to pay more tax if it meant these services were improved.
Tim Burbidge, UK

Something useful needs to be done with the money they already have

Bob Crozier, Scotland

I would like to see the Chancellor spend the money he already has in a more efficient manner. Granted if that turned out to be the case then by all means raise tax but certainly do not raise tax just to pump money down the drain. Something useful needs to be done with the money they already have.
Bob Crozier, Scotland

Show me my money is not being wasted before asking me for even more. The government has already taken enough direct and stealth tax from me
Paul, UK

Given the parlous state of health, education and transport services in this country, I would be perfectly happy to pay more taxes - as long as the extra money can be shown to be bringing real improvements. Raising personal taxes would also be good for the economy at this stage of the economic cycle.
Rob, UK

The government has to prove that it can improve and reform public services

Mike, UK

No. The government has to prove that it can improve and reform public services. We've poured money into, for example, the NHS, only to see declining standards. They need to prove they can reform and improve them before I'm willing to pay any more of an already very large tax bill.
Mike, UK

I personally would be prepared to pay more tax. However, when it comes to the crunch, I suspect a lot more people wouldn't be, despite what they may say now. Remember 10 years ago this week? Neil Kinnock's Labour Party proposed a basic tax rate of 30% in the General Election, and everybody told the opinion polls they'd vote for it. The result? A 21-seat majority for the tax lowering Conservative Party!
Dave Hartley, Stourbridge, England, UK

There is no correlation between more tax and better services. Spending on the NHS has risen by 25 per cent under Labour, but is anything 25 per cent better? Mr Brown will raise tax (to the detriment of the whole economy) because that is what Labour governments do, but anyone who expects as a result to see vast improvements in public services as a result should not hold their breath. Thank heavens for BUPA.
Kevin, UK

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