1c tax on texts

Tom Dunne

Just heard on the news that the Greens are proposing a 1c tax on text messages to raise funds.

Madness? Unfair on the young? Or a damn good idea?

I think it has it's merits, but will hit the young more than the old more. Which isn't as bad as it sounds, as teenagers tend not to have mortgages.

Cabaal

Not a bad idea, say 2.5billion texts a year in Ireland...its not alot of money but its an easy way of making it

DMC

So people will be using webtexts more often then!

Its all about tax avoidance, folks

billbond4

I think its a stupid idea, the government minister just saw some article that Irish sent whatever number of billion texts and thought, oh a new text tax would be nice.
Did she forget that the government increased VAT last november??? so they are already getting increased revenue from mobile users.
I think they should bring in a haircut tax as well, or maybe a sock tax too

mcguyver

What will the Greens come up with next they don't have a clue they should think before they speak idiots. I wonder how this will work with all the networks giving free text....

billbond4

I should have known it was a Green minister that came up with the suggestion, they are some shower of wasters!! :mad:

Robbo

Perhaps we could run a text voting system for the Local and Euro Elections in June? Ant and Dec have already expressed their interest...

Rsaeire

billbond4 wrote: »

I think its a stupid idea, the government minister just saw some article that Irish sent whatever number of billion texts and thought, oh a new text tax would be nice.
Did she forget that the government increased VAT last november??? so they are already getting increased revenue from mobile users.
I think they should bring in a haircut tax as well, or maybe a sock tax too

While they're at it, why not a call tax, data tax and a mobile network tax, you know, just for using the mobile network in the first place? :rolleyes:

The Irish government is ensuring that this current economic downturn we're in will be remembered for not only the loss of jobs and business, but for the inability for our government to act accordingly, professionally and in the best interest of the Irish people. The one thing the government has to realise is that they represent the Irish people, they do not represent themselves alone.

billbond4

Robbo wrote: »

Perhaps we could run a text voting system for the Local and Euro Elections in June? Ant and Dec have already expressed their interest...

Great idea, and we could use those e-voting machines that the government have in storage to cut down on costs

mcguyver

Rsaeire wrote: »

While they're at it, why not a call tax, data tax and a mobile network tax, you know, just for using the mobile network in the first place? :rolleyes:

The Irish government is ensuring that this current economic downturn we're in will be remembered for not only the loss of jobs and business, but for the inability for our government to act accordingly, professionally and in the best interest of the Irish people. The one thing the government has to realise is that they represent the Irish people, they do not represent themselves alone.

Well said try telling that to Cowen as he said himself he will do things his way and the way he sees fit and as we can all see its working wonders for us all.

Tom Dunne

I think revenue has to be generated from somewhere, given the downward spiralling of our public finances.

Is any tax palatable? No.

Is this suggestion a fair tax? I think so. Sending texts are not a necessity, though I am not saying they are a luxury.

Not so sure the mobile operators will like it, though.

KerranJast

There's going to have to be a property tax and increase in PAYE taxes unfortunately.

thefinalstage

Princess Tom wrote: »

I think revenue has to be generated from somewhere, given the downward spiralling of our public finances.

Is any tax palatable? No.

Is this suggestion a fair tax? I think so. Sending texts are not a necessity, though I am not saying they are a luxury.

Not so sure the mobile operators will like it, though.

But texts are basically free for the network at the moment. They are just piggy back messages really. If this comes in, goodbye free texts for life.

Cathmandooo

I don't think it would hit as many teenagers as you'd think. Just because 2.5billion texts are sent doesn't mean 2.5 billion texts are individually paid for.

What I mean is I'm on Meteor pay as you go. I top up by €20 a month and get unlimited free texts for the month from my phone. How will they add the extra tax to my texts? The €20 a month credit I have is for phone calls and as far as I know an awful lot of people are on the same sort of deal and aren't paying for each individual text.

I do like the idea of it though, it's not that much off everyone.

Tom Dunne

How about this then?

There is a levy on credit cards and ATM cards.

How about a standard, say, €10 levy on a mobile phone account?

*runs for cover*

drunkmonkey

everybodys talking like someone realy suggested the idea, did they?

I think it's a brilliant idea, nothing worse on this earth than text messages, i'd be pushing for a 5cent tax, should generate about 10million, presto, country fixed, all ready to run out and buy more shoe boxes...

jordainius

drunkmonkey wrote: »

everybodys talking like someone realy suggested the idea, did they?

I think it's a brilliant idea, nothing worse on this earth than text messages, i'd be pushing for a 5cent tax, should generate about 10million, presto, country fixed, all ready to run out and buy more shoe boxes...

Either you're not all that intelligent or that is a blatant attempt to pi$s people off (which is very unlike you).

Tom Dunne

drunkmonkey wrote: »

everybodys talking like someone realy suggested the idea, did they?

I think it's a brilliant idea, nothing worse on this earth than text messages, i'd be pushing for a 5cent tax, should generate about 10million, presto, country fixed, all ready to run out and buy more shoe boxes...

jordainius wrote: »

Either you're not all that intelligent or that is a blatant attempt to pi$s people off (which is very unlike you).

Guys, if you have a problem with a post, report it, and let the moderators deal with it.

godskitchen

drunkmonkey wrote: »

everybodys talking like someone realy suggested the idea, did they?

I think it's a brilliant idea, nothing worse on this earth than text messages, i'd be pushing for a 5cent tax, should generate about 10million, presto, country fixed, all ready to run out and buy more shoe boxes...

Class :D

I would be all for putting a tax on joke emails.......say 5c for every person you forward it to?

gpjordanf1

Princess Tom wrote: »

Just heard on the news that the Greens are proposing a 1c tax on text messages to raise funds.

Madness? Unfair on the young? Or a damn good idea?

I think it has it's merits, but will hit the young more than the old more. Which isn't as bad as it sounds, as teenagers tend not to have mortgages.

Another rubbish idea from the ministry of (silly walks) bicycles & lightbulbs!

Reduce the public service by 30%, I'm not talking about low grade workers, I'm talking middle grade & upper grade.

Then reduce pay by 30% for the remainder again not low grade workers, and this should be capped for 5 years.

Next reduce pay to ministers by 50%, no more offical cars etc bought for next 5 years. Sell government Jet, any minister who has to travel abroad can fly economy like the rest of us.

All public servant expenses to be independently audited and rejected where possible.

All Anglo Irish Loan defaulters to pay through private assets, not the tax payer.

I suspect we'd have the €13 Billion shortfall in a very short time.

mcguyver

drunkmonkey wrote: »

everybodys talking like someone realy suggested the idea, did they?

I think it's a brilliant idea, nothing worse on this earth than text messages, i'd be pushing for a 5cent tax, should generate about 10million, presto, country fixed, all ready to run out and buy more shoe boxes...

10million to fix the country haha where have you being living.

jordainius

Princess Tom wrote: »

Guys, if you have a problem with a post, report it, and let the moderators deal with it.

Fair enough but what he is suggesting is something that would upset a LOT of people in this country, and his given reason is that "nothing worse on this earth than text messages".

Considering how popular text messaging is (as everyone including drunkmonkey knows full well) I think its fair to say that his statement is either a joke or an attempt to wind people up.

Ok, while its ridiculous that some people let texting take over their lives, lets take the example of someone who sends a modest 10 text messages a day. If this person were to pay 5c in tax per message as drunkmonkey suggests, this would cost that person an extra 183euro per year, all because of what is basically a "grudge against text messaging" tax.

drunkmonkey

mcguyver wrote: »

10million to fix the country haha where have you being living.

doh! i'm off to get some coffee:D

drunkmonkey

jordainius wrote: »

"grudge against text messaging" tax.

what about the grudge against, nice cars, smokers, drinkers... about time the texters felt a bit of the pain...

lighten up:p

JonnyMaguire

You lot are something else.

"well, WE have to get revenue from somewhere"

yeah, is that so. What is the revenue needed for, to pay those fat cat bankers.

Were you all recieving big dividend cheques over all those years???????

Yeah, I thought not. You were not all in it togeather then, but now we are "all in it togeather".

Farce.

Rsaeire

Princess Tom wrote: »

I think revenue has to be generated from somewhere, given the downward spiralling of our public finances.

Is any tax palatable? No.

Is this suggestion a fair tax? I think so. Sending texts are not a necessity, though I am not saying they are a luxury.

Not so sure the mobile operators will like it, though.

The government should stop foreign aid for a year or, at the very least, reduce the amount of money going out on foreign aid. I don’t agree with foreign aid being abolished entirely, or for foreign aid to be reduced indefinitely, merely for a specific time-frame to be set. We have proposed college fees, medical card revocations, 1% government levy, new taxes, and many more such examples here in this country to deal with. As a country we should help ourselves and then help others. I am not going to debate this point, as it is my opinion. I can understand the argument against what I proposed and I respect those of you whose opinion differs from my own.

Max Power1

Princess Tom wrote: »

How about this then?

There is a levy on credit cards and ATM cards.

How about a standard, say, €10 levy on a mobile phone account?

*runs for cover*

That's actually a good idea. If there has to be a tax/levy imposed on mobiles then I would be in favour of a levy in one go rather than the termination of free texts!!

Edit: Just saw Rsaiere's post there - agree 100% with you there mate!

Tom Dunne

JonnyMaguire wrote: »

You lot are something else.

"well, WE have to get revenue from somewhere"

yeah, is that so. What is the revenue needed for, to pay those fat cat bankers.

Were you all recieving big dividend cheques over all those years???????

Yeah, I thought not. You were not all in it togeather then, but now we are "all in it togeather".

Farce.

Not a lot that can be done about that now, unfortunately.

This is a discussion about taxing text messages, not the lessons learned from financial crisis that has crippled our banking system.

Please stay on topic.

drunkmonkey

Max Power1 wrote: »

That's actually a good idea. If there has to be a tax/levy imposed on mobiles then I would be in favour of a levy in one go rather than the termination of free texts!!
!

so you obviously don't have a bill phone:mad:......silly idea for a tax, txt idea is way better, it brings a lot more people into the tax net...;)

Rsaeire

drunkmonkey wrote: »

so you obviously don't have a bill phone:mad:......silly idea for a tax, txt idea is way better, it brings a lot more people into the tax net...;)

I'd actually agree with Princess Tom and Max Power1. A €10 government levy on a mobile number, be it prepay or postpay, would ensure a minimum amount is collected each year from every user, and not merely from those who send text messages from their handset. It would ensure a larger amount of tax is collected too.

mcguyver

drunkmonkey wrote: »

so you obviously don't have a bill phone:mad:......silly idea for a tax, txt idea is way better, it brings a lot more people into the tax net...;)

Ah sure just bring in the 5c tax for bill-pay we can't be taxing the kids and the 5c should cover what we don't get from them and while there at it add an extra tax for calls say 5 c per min because of all the annoying people on there phones on busses etc

mcguyver

Rsaeire wrote: »

I'd actually agree with Princess Tom and Max Power1. A €10 government levy on a mobile number, be it prepay or postpay, would ensure a minimum amount is collected each year from every user, and not merely from those who send text messages from their handset. It would ensure a larger amount of tax is collected too.

Yeah a Mobile Phone Licence they will do is in addition to the 1c tax as soon as they think of it. And im sure the greens will also want a tax based on the radiation levels emitted from the phone and also the size of the battery kinda like the car tax schem except for mobiles.

super_furry

Rsaeire wrote: »

I'd actually agree with Princess Tom and Max Power1. A €10 government levy on a mobile number, be it prepay or postpay, would ensure a minimum amount is collected each year from every user, and not merely from those who send text messages from their handset. It would ensure a larger amount of tax is collected too.

Yep, gotta say this makes a lot of sense.

Cabaal

10e fee for every phone account in Ireland seems better then a 1c tax imho

Tom Dunne

Cabaal wrote: »

10e fee for every phone account in Ireland seems better then a 1c tax imho

I think this might be worth a poll.

Mr. Presentable

Princess Tom wrote: »

How about this then?

There is a levy on credit cards and ATM cards.

How about a standard, say, €10 levy on a mobile phone account?

*runs for cover*

Sound idea. A Sim card levy. Also a 1c tax on texts. Sure most texts are sent by kids to young to vote, so it's win/win

homah_7ft

How do you collect the 10 euro tax you are suggesting?

Tom Dunne

homah_7ft wrote: »

How do you collect the 10 euro tax you are suggesting?

I presume it would operate like the €10 tax on credit/ATM cards - the service provider would have to collect it at source.

homah_7ft

And if you are prepay?

Rsaeire

homah_7ft wrote: »

And if you are prepay?

The credit would be debited from the prepay users' accounts and if any user had insufficient credit, they would be in a negative balance until they next top-up.

mcguyver

homah_7ft wrote: »

And if you are prepay?

They will take it from your credit

pyramuid man

Robbo wrote: »

Perhaps we could run a text voting system for the Local and Euro Elections in June? Ant and Dec have already expressed their interest...

Brilliant

Tom Dunne

I'm going to lock this thread as it makes sense to continue the discussion in the other thread with the poll.

(You can't retrospectively add a poll to a thread, as I discovered. And, if I merge the two, the first post on this thread will be the first post in the new thread, causing confusion on the poll)