Maestro wants MPs to find out whether the Queen pays her fair share of taxes
Some months ago my wife wrote to a LibDem MP asking:
(a) if it was true that the Queen received preferential treatment regarding the taxes she paid on her private wealth and income, and if so
(b) whether he thought that the concessions should continue and, if so
(c) the reasons why.
My wife expressed her concern that a very rich person like the Queen might not be paying a proportionate share of the tax burden being borne by people of modest means during the present economic crisis affecting Britain. She received a standard reply which set out the LibDems’ taxation policy and did not address any of the points in her letter.
My wife wrote back immediately, drawing attention to the MP’s failure to respond properly and pointing out that her questions raised important constitutional issues. She got no reply. She was forced to conclude that our politicians regard anything to do with the monarchy as a ‘no-go’ area.
Our politicians’ financial affairs have now been brought out into the open. Why doesn’t Parliament require the Queen’s financial affairs to be submitted to the same scrutiny?
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Fair taxation for all
Do the same income tax rules apply to the Queen as to the rest of us? Who knows?
Britain is going through its worst economic crisis since the 1930s, and there is severe pressure on public expenditure. Heavy cuts to public services and higher taxes are expected soon. Taxes not paid by the Queen mean less income for front-line services.
MPs need to investigate this question without fear or favour. A monarch can’t be respected if they don’t share their people’s pain and don’t pay their full whack towards the common good.
Call in HM Tax Inspectors!
I’ve been told that the Queen paid no income tax before 1993 and that she and Prince Charles then agreed to pay some voluntary income tax. So they can choose to pay some tax, the full tax, or no tax whenever they feel like it? This makes me very angry.
Why aren’t the Queen and her eldest son obliged to pay taxes like everybody else? And what about the taxes not paid from 1952 to 1992? Shouldn’t the Queen hand them over to HM Revenue & Customs? Plus the penalties, surcharges and interest for late returns and late payment of tax.