I was talking to my boss today and he told me in England they pay roughly $10.00 a gallon for disel and half of that is for taxes. That over there the govt takes out 41% from the paycheck in taxes. From what I understand some of that goes towards the universal health care and social welfare but not 100% sure.

What about in Oman. What is taxed? Not sure how they deal with such things. In America we are taxed between 20-31%....depends on how much you make. Though we complain about the IRS the good thing is that we can go back to the govt and say look: "You over taxed us." Like what happened to my sister and brother law who received a tax refund check of $15,000 because they had paid out too much in taxes.

I think taxes are a necessary evil to keep an economy alive.

Thoughts???

All Gulf countries are tax-free... so we don't pay annual taxes in Oman.

By the way, congrats on President Bush's tax rebate for 2007. Some of American citizens I know started receiving the rebate... in addition to the refunds, of course.

in Oman most of it is indirect tax
in goods and services, and it low %
very low..

the govt if they want to boost the economy
they decrease tax
that means we have to pay for our health care etc..

if the govt wants to slow the economy
the increase tax
that will end by up things less
for good and services

Bush should have doled out more. $600 is a drop in the bucket. Won't do anything to kickstart his economy. probably Americans will use it to pay their gas or other bills.

We're taxed according to how much we earn.. but many people try to cheat the system, and those who can't are the first to complain. And it's understandable, of course. Because it ain't fair to keep getting taxed higher to carry the burden of others.

But, I'm not sure I want to complain. We have great government funded schools, and an absolutely fabulous new hospital. Which are probably the two most important things any family needs. A good free education system and a good, free, efficient health system.

It's not actually "free"... we pay through taxes.. but imagine paying taxes AND having to pay for decent education and health care too!

Here in the states we also pay on property taxes and that goes towards the schools. In Missouri we pay property taxes on our car each year. My home state of Indiana doesn't. But we all pay every year to renew our plates and taxes are included in that.

Here in the states we also pay on property taxes and that goes towards the schools. In Missouri we pay property taxes on our car each year. My home state of Indiana doesn't. But we all pay every year to renew our plates and taxes are included in that.
yes.. we pay VAT taxation on most things we buy. At least EVERYONE is contributing on some way that way. If you got money and can spend it, then you're going to put something into the coffers.

We also have car road tax and licence and a REALLY ridiculous tax that should be reformed pretty soon on the importation of vehicles. The tax is something like 80% of the car's value. Utter madness!

In Oman and the Gulf countries there is no sales or income Taxation imposed on the public, income Tax is only imposed on large companies. Despite the free outstanding healthcare system despite the free k-12 education and the free higher education for more than 50% of the high school graduate… people are still complaining about the RO. 1 ($2.6) they have to pay at the hospital window, and also complain about the exaggerated traffic tickets, they pay ($26) for every 10 km/hr above the limit (I think) …with no effect on the driving record or insurance which is not even $150 per year…yet they complain! And everyone in this world will keep complaining….

Man...I went 42 mph in a 25 and my traffic ticket was $280.00 GULP!

We do have sales tax, federal tax, property tax, inheritance tax, import taxes, you name it baby.

My last ticket in March 2007 was 83 in a 75 zone and I paid $160 for those 7 miles!

DAMN.

One time I was going 120 in a 65 and the cop put me down for about 80 so I wouldn't get my butt hauled off to jail. I forget how much that ticket was.

I know smaller municipalities seem to depend on those traffic tickets. I know my small town of Webster Groves (suburb of St. Louis) does.

I got that one in Arkansas, I don’t think I would get more than a warning if it was in Texas given my last ticket was in January 2001.

But 120 in a 65? 55 above the limit? Did you fly? That is more than 190 km/hr!!!!!!!!!!

I was in a cutless sierra and was flying. from Indianapolis to Terre Haute, Indiana. I was one lucky chica! I've calmed down now.

Here it's €1.42 per litre for diesel.
And don't talk to me about taxes ... ask DD :XD:

Well, the way I look it at everyone gets screwed one way or the other irregardless of where you come from. The money we make goes back into the system. I understand that...I do...but it irks me that people say in the USA who work two jobs and cannot afford basic health care...that makes me mad and they DO pay taxes or you get people who are on min. wage and they cannot keep up with the rising cost of gas or goods and services. That really hurts to see it.

what irks me big time is when a person claims benefits, cheats tax and earns more than me. and they get benefits from my taxes.

Well, the way I look it at everyone gets screwed one way or the other irregardless of where you come from. The money we make goes back into the system. I understand that...I do...but it irks me that people say in the USA who work two jobs and cannot afford basic health care...that makes me mad and they DO pay taxes or you get people who are on min. wage and they cannot keep up with the rising cost of gas or goods and services. That really hurts to see it.

I know !! when I saw the movie John Q which was based on a true story I got really shocked .. Govt should always be responsible for health care .. no intermediate (Health Insurance) involved as long as you are citizen. I think it works that way in Canada.

I think Oman will be out of the "tax-free" list somehow soon. I have heard a tax of 5% to put on goods as a step to prepare for the oil vanishing crisis.

They are discussing an income tax on businesses but not on personal income.

Yes AP right :), the discussion in ‘Shura’ council was about the company’s income tax rather than personnel tax

For the time being, looking at salaries structure, I don’t see a flexibility of applying taxation, as they already low enough to keep the civil/private sector employees surviving.

In fact the increases in salaries were relatively low and not in the range of high inflation rate

AP and The Brain. thanks for the correction.

Anyway, I think what they should do is to monitor all factors or at least most effective ones. Say companies are obliged with the 5%, the next day these companies are shortening some of the allowances of the employers and the easiest reply will be sorry we are paying the 5%!! The employees have no other option but to agree to it as they do not afford to loose their jobs especially in the current situation.

In this case the employees rights should be protected.


Or maybe the companiess will raise up to prices of their produced goods for the same reason!!

Finally, who do own most of the companies in the country? .. and who are those who make the rules?? That is the most difficult equation to be solved.

AP and The Brain. thanks for the correction.

Anyway, I think what they should do is to monitor all factors or at least most effective ones. Say companies are obliged with the 5%, the next day these companies are shortening some of the allowances of the employers and the easiest reply will be sorry we are paying the 5%!! The employees have no other option but to agree to it as they do not afford to loose their jobs especially in the current situation.

Or maybe the companiess will raise up to prices of their produced goods for the same reason!!

Finally, who do own most of the companies in the country? .. and who are those who make the rules?? That is the most difficult equation to be solved.

In the Manpower law, an employee's salary shouldnt be decresed. So decresing 5% from an employees' salary is almost impossible
Raising the prices is another issue, and logicly if thier profit margine is affected thier response would be in the prices. This is why this step needs to be studied.

I dont think its right to point towards the owners of the companies. Most big companies are owned by business men who have no or little impact on making the rules. Let us not refain from putting fingers on people and instead discuss the issue logicly. Otherwise, if they were the ones making the rules they wouldnt have introduced the idea of taxtion on thier businesses ;)

... Otherwise, if they were the ones making the rules they wouldnt have introduced the idea of taxtion on thier businesses ;)

Now I’m not really sure if they they companies owners have introduced the idea or not .. but logically its not in their favour as it reduce the profit margin

Actually they are against the Tax idea but the don’t claim it will be reducing the profit margin, instead they claim this will affect their labour salaries as they have to cut on their pay to reduce the cost … so they putting the ball back in Government field

In the Manpower law, an employee's salary shouldnt be decresed. So decresing 5% from an employees' salary is almost impossibleRaising the prices is another issue, and logicly if thier profit margine is affected thier response would be in the prices. This is why this step needs to be studied.


MAN...I wish we had this here. Right now I had over $500 taken out for taxes with the overtime I did. SIGH!

edited.....