Tax breaks for married couples?

Question

David Cameron has said he thinks that married couples should get tax breaks. What do you think of this? Do you feel that single parent families should be the main priority? or do you feel that married couples should get some support?

KJ - is it not discrimination that married couples pay their taxes like everyone else and yet recieve no benefits?

I personally feel that everyone should be treated the same, however married couples are penalised simply because they are married. What benefits are out there for married couples? I'm not against single parent families at all and do feel they need help as the majority of them didn't choose to bring up their children alone, but why should my married couples, with or without children have to pay for for other people and expect to recieve NOTHING in return. We pay our taxes like everyone else and recieve no help.

henke - it's not about NOT giving to others just giving something to married couples AS WELL as single parent families.

Heather D - you've hit the nail on the head - you WORK HARD for what you get and your so right about not being acknowledged we deserve a little credit.

Answer 1

Of course married couples should get tax breaks.
Our society is falling apart, the breakdown of the family unit is a major cause of our ills.
As for those decrying marriage, if you live with someone, why not take 10 minutes to make a commitment to them and the kids? Or are you too selfish for that?
Marriage is an excellent basis to build society upon. Love, understanding, and self discipline.
Isn't it strange that with the decline of marriage, we have had a breakdown in modern society? Rising crime, drug dependency, kids binge drinking, increased suicide levels, people need stability, the here today, gone tonight culture has torn our youth apart.
Anything that gives a helping hand to couples facing financial difficulties is a boon, the cost to society when couple split, is too destructive.

Answer 2

I think Mr Cameron is stating that the break down of the family unit is causing alot of ills in todays society. Tax breaks to encourage families to stay together in the hope that a family unit may cure some of these ills, is an idea that many share.

Answer 3

I agree with you. I believe that EVERYONE should be treated the same. Everyone should have the same benefits. Some single parents dont work because it is not cost effective as they get more money in benefits. Why then, should married couples and single people without kids have to work hard but not get any benefits?

Answer 4

Though I am not a Cameronite(sounds biblical) I have long believed that tax breaks for married couples are essential..

For a start how many couples would still be together if these were available?
There is no bigger reason accredited to marital split than financial stress brought about by the increased costs of keeping home and family together coupled with stagnant wage rises.
This tax incentive may also help bring about long term benefits such as; less anti-social behaviour less domestic violence and for the children's sake a balanced and secure upbringing not to mention the amount of 'second homes' that could be allocated to others.
The value in benefits saved using this as a template would possibly lead to this plan becoming 'self financing' in the long term
We are always seeing the slogan 'Investors in People' let's see a government policy slogan 'Investors in Family' coupled with a firm decision to back it to the hilt..
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Answer 5

i can see what he is doing and why, David Cameron is very much focused on good old traditional family values, and by promising tax breaks it will (in his eyes) encourage couples that are maybe living together unwed to get married and save money etc. right or wrong you have to give him credit for trying to do something to change the way the general society is at the moment. theory being that stability at home creates a stable child.

Answer 6

It is a crazy idea. My parents are in their 70's and their children are adults and they would be eligible for tax cuts but a young couple who have choose not to marry for whatever reason and are starting up a family would not
A lot of people assume this has to do with children but it is not, you would still be eligible for this tax break if you had no children or your children were adults. Why not increase child benefit if it is the children that are supposed to be the benefactors in this, this way all of them would benefit

If you are going to give to married couple and single parent families what about me as an unmarried person with no kids.Why should i be expected to pay for you and also receive nothing in return.If it is just about fairness what is so special about being married, i also work hard why am i not entitled to some credit

Answer 7

Im married and have kids, but that shouldnt mean i 'contribute' less because of these facts. We should all contribute a sensible amount to the treasury. If me and the wife earn 30k and next door earn the same but are not married, why should they pay more than us? We are using the same Nhs etc, Mick

ps Single parent families already get extra help, with working tax credits etc. My kids shouldnt be a reason for me to pay less tax than someone who has no children, i chose to start a family, i wasnt forced, and it should be me and the wife who work to pay for that family. And if we split, it still is 'our' responsibility.

EDIT: Why all the thumbs down? Do people expect to start families and not be responsible for them? If your not man enough to look after a family, dont have a family.

Answer 8

A clear Tory policy. Cameron is a good man, don't get me wrong, but this move is probably too much more modern day Britain. There are a lot of single parents moreso than in Thatcher's time!
It would have worked 20 years ago...........
What is happening here, is Cameron is bringing his own personal beliefs into politics!!!! (the family code etc.)
Thatcher was the last democrat to refer to such measures.
The move lacks professionalism.

Answer 9

I don't see why married couples should receive preferential treatment over ANYONE else. Surely that is discrimination of some sort. In fact, surely as married couples generally have 2 wages coming in, why should they get a tax break?

Edited - I don't understand how it would be discrimination that a married couple pay the same tax as single/non married people but they don't receive benefits. What benefits does a single, tax paying person receive? For what reason should a married couple receive benefits that other tax paying members of society don't? Can someone explain in what way married couples are penalised because they both pay the same tax

Answer 10

I am one half of a married couple with a child. I have recently returned to work.

I pay £50 a week for my sons nursery (just a couple of afternoons a week) which means a large chunk of my income is taken up in paying that (I only work 16 hours a week) and we got NO help. There are other kids there who are only paying £10 for the same length of time thanks to the help given to them by the government.

Now I fully understand and appreciate that there should be help out there for those that need it but we sat down one night and worked out I would be better of single. I should get my husband to throw me out, get re-housed by the council and get massive rent and tax rebates. I would get free dental and eye care, free prescriptions, even access to the local sports centres for 50p, vouchers for fruit, milk, school meals and school uniform and 80% of my childcare paid for. Thats not to mention the weekly income support.

I think it is shocking that me and my child would be better of without my husband! That is no way to promote married and family life is it?

We aren't huge earners but we work bl00dy hard for what we have - it would be nice to be acknowledged.

We get £11 a week in tax credits - hardly worth the paperwork but I take it!