Chris Oates wrote:

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...

Mike Mitchell wrote:


On Thu, 11 Dec 2003 21:08:47 -0000, "Chris Oates" none wrote:



"John Rumm" wrote in message
.. .


Is it just me or is something not adding up here?


Not much adds up in their programs
Get survey done, buy house for half a million,
house has dry rot ????

Last week they went for the half a million plus figure
completely forgeting that the stamp duty hike at that level
would severely limit offers



The Independent reported yesterday that the Inland Revenue is taking a
very keen interest in the £500K sale, plus the ten grand for "fixtures
and fittings".


The money program on radio 4 said that yu can get away with it if its
reasonable.


Which it obviously wasn't as they conspired to defraud as soon as they were
told that the stamp duty hike at 500k existed.
They told the viewers exactly what they were doing !



Its not illegal.
The stamp duty is on the land and the property. Not on 'demountable
objects' or indeed furniture. However the revenue takes a dim view of a
500 grand house with 300 grand of fitted carpets and curtain rails. But
will accept maybe 10k.

Up till now no one has really made a point of separating the two. Now
there is a point, so people will...as much as they can get away with.

Its legal and its only the fact that a stupid law that allows untaxed
transactions below 500k and taxes them at full whack at a penny over
that makes it a thing to be done.

If OTOH they simply taxed the residue ABOVE 500k at a small percentage,
then it wouldn';t be woth the bother of fiddling around with accounting.

Its a stupid tax in its implementation, it reduces the liquidity of the
market, and will be repealed as soon as tony and the boys get shoved
into the nether darkenss whence they came.