Last week a petition was launched to change the term ‘Income Tax’ to ‘Social Investment Payment’.
The petition, which anyone can sign on the epetitions website, says:
We need to change the way we think about income tax. For too long it has been seen as a necessary evil, a portion of our incomes which we part with reluctantly. Rather, paying tax is a good thing. Through it we contribute towards an incredible range of services and facilities which we could never otherwise afford: schools, hospitals, transport systems, sporting facilities, theatres and art galleries, street lighting, parks, community centres – the list goes on. Now is the time to start changing the way we think about our contribution towards the cost of these services and facilities, and use the term 'Social Investment Payment' rather than 'income tax'.
The Herald included a comment about this in today's edition which commended the petition.
I fully agree with this petition – we should pay tax with pride, and see it not as a penalty but as a contribution from those who have been blessed to help those less fortunate than themselves.
If you love your neighbour, if you value your public services, if you want to know that there is a social safety net for those who need it, think again about tax, and sign the petition!
One potential problem I see is the cost of changing the name. The admin costs would run into millions when we simply don't have it. I have paid income tax and NI for over 45 years and I have always been proud to support my country so the new title wouldn't change that anyway.
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