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16 October 2014
Modern Studies - Wealth and Health Inequalities

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Study the text below on direct taxes and find 3 arguments in favour of direct taxes.
Choose one argument from each paragraph.

Opinion A - In favour of direct taxes

Direct taxes are those which the Government take directly from people's salaries.
Examples of direct taxes are Income Tax and National Insurance.
Direct taxes are best because they are relatively easy for the Government to collect.
By contrast, Indirect taxes are taxes on what people spend, rather than on what they earn.VAT (Value Added Tax) is an indirect tax.
It is a very unfair tax because poorer people pay a higher proportion of their income than rich people.
For example, a burger meal may cost £2.99. Approximately 50p of this price is VAT. The rich and the poor person pay the same price and the same amount of tax when buying the meal.
Money raised from direct taxes is spent on services such as hospitals, schools and benefits for the poor and needy.
Direct taxes can be progressive i.e. the more you earn, the more you pay. Most people in the UK pay 22% of their income in Income tax, while richer people pay 40%.
If the Government wants to tackle poverty in Britain, direct taxes are the best and fairest way.
Brian Davies, pension analyst


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