> And it is not just income tax which has increased. Council tax has increased > by more than the rate of inflation each year for the last several years.
Seems as though taxes are an universal gripe! Our rates (Council Taxes) have been stable for the past few years at, for us, approx $1200 per annum. ( US$1904 approx) Petrol here is amazing. Currently $1.24 per litre (US$1.97, or approx $7.80 per gallon!) Our income tax, is a graduated tax - the more you earn, the higher the tax, i.e. one rate to $28,000, .24 cents in the dollar, then up to .33 cents in the dollar. Company taxes are different again. Then everyone pays a flat 12.5% on everything one buys. i.e. a goods and services tax. that is generally calculated in the price displayed. You very rarely see any signage that says "plus GST", thankfully. At least as we live in what is regarded as a "poor" town, where the median gross income is very low, we are included in a state run medical subsidy scheme, and we can visit the doctor for $15 (US$23.80), so we do have some benefits ;-), specially as hubby and I are asthmatics. Maxine in a cold and damp NZ, where winter has arrived with vengeance. To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
