What if 250,000 people in the U K signed a pledge not to pay there council tax ?

Question

And did not pay. Also , what could the government do about it ?
JW Dread

Answer 1

This is, in practically terms, the best idea for civil protest, and with, say, 250,000 refusing to pay, and the same number getting notices to attend at Court, which would take a fortune and 3 months to organise and a further 3 months to issue, you would have roughly 50 cases per day for 5,000 days, which is years, and even if they managed that, without the system crashing under the weight, the 250,000 then refuse to pay the fines and elect to go to jail.

Current capacity could handle about 2,000 before splitting in two, so it's and idea that would turn the poll tax on it's head in roughly 3 months.

Lets do it...

Answer 2

Sounds like a good idea to me, but 250,000 people would be summonsed to court. It may take a long time though. Ever heard of the old lady who refused to pay her council tax and was actually put into prison for non-payment.

Answer 3

The Government doesn't levy and collect council tax. This inequitable tax is set and levied by local councils. If 250,000 people refused to pay they would all be dealt with by local magistrates courts and penalised accordingly. They would in other words be "divided and conquered". If several million people forced their MPs to vote against council tax in the House of Commons it would stop (and something else put in its place)

Answer 4

Sounds like an excellent idea, but going this incompetent governments record, the chances are that they would release all foreign criminals, rapists, murderers, peado's from prison so they can make room for those of us who refused to pay the Council Tax!

Answer 5

In political terms, withholding tax is called a 'moratorium'. People who do this are denying the state or local council, the ability to get on with its work. The majority of people do not join a moratorium but pay their taxes and when it comes to an election, they vote for someone who either spends the money more effectively, or they choose someone who will cut their taxes.

"Even rich gready businessmen gotta pay tax...."
(from - "Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.")

Answer 6

Sounds like a good idea to me sadly unlike people in France we are easily down trodden.Many people would volunteer but before the event most would back out.Any form of civil unrest is so UnBritish.

Answer 7

The courts would be very busy indeed and it could even prompt an increase in the fines/imprisonments or goods seizure penalties.

Answer 8

Another 250,000 people would be in the overcrowded jails. I have to pay mine. So why not them?