Should we tax the rich more than the poor?

What is tax?

There are many types of taxes, including Income Tax, National Insurance Tax and Value Added Tax. The tax that affects peoples' salaries is income tax. The amount of tax a person pays will depend on many factors, but one of the most important factors is based on how much money a person makes.

A large amount of the government's income comes form our taxes. Altogether, the tax collected by the government goes towards services such as the NHS, the UK's education system and the welfare and security system.

Facts and figures

Tax bands tell us know how much we need to pay. The three tax bands are listed below.

• Lower tax band/starting rate for savings - Earnings between £0-£2,440 are taxed at 10%
• Basic tax band - earnings between £0-£37,400 are taxed at 20%
• Higher tax band - earnings over £37,400 are taxed at 40%

Alistair Darlring announced in the 2009 budget, a new tax rate of 50% would be introduced for people who earn above £150. This has yet to be confirmed.

Your comments

• What is the point in tax? Why should some people pay more than others?Host
• ...On this issue, I think Thatcher had the best solutions.x Haych kaii x
• No Poor people are lazy and it is typical labour to tax the rick more than the poor. Generally the rich work harder than the poor and they move the economy by spending more money than the poor. U13719548...
• A lack of international cooperation means the super- obscenely rich (i.e hedge fund managers and bank bosses, celebrities [footballers get paid far too much]) pay next to no tax, whilst middle class families and families with one high earning and one non-working parent pick up the burden.... U1372477
• I think that the rich should be taxed more than the poor because they have more money overall and they can afford to pay more tax... Grinning-ninnin
• ...I do support your statement that people who do service to the country should not be taxed.... -JAime