Tax Exemption - Lobby your MP

[Big Unit Specialist]

There are, as we are all aware, lots of grumblings from the military (myself included) that time on operations is steadily increasing for the majority of folk. The government values us soooooooo much that we get the "operational welfare package" and LSSA to compensate us for time away from loved ones. I have just returned from away (again) where the US troops get tax exemption for their operational time away (each and every month away even if they only spend 1 day of the month in theatre) and now the Canadians have followed suit after lobbying their government....... The French on ops get allowances AND time and a half towards their pensions!!!!!! In some operations double time towards their pensions!!!
So let's get to it and lobby our government to get the UK military on a par with our allies and get some recompense which means something. Perhaps even backdated to the beginning of TELIC? As if!

:rolleyes:

Link to Constituencies and MP's e-mails http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/alcm.cfm

[The Swinging Monkey]

BUS

I wish you luck, but fear you not get far.
This has been looked at on several occasions and has always drawn a blank. The reason? the good old X-factor. And like it or not, that is what you will be told by those in high places.
My sqn and I looked into this matter several years ago, when we were spending 8 - 9 months out of the country each year in Bosnia and Kosovo. My particular winge was regarding Car Tax and Car insurance and I spoke to HMG and my insurance co' about these very two points, pointing out that as I couldn't use my vehicle, can I have a rebate of sorts?
The answer from HMG was ''Don't you get the x-factor to cover these sorts of things?' and the reply from my insurance co' was slightly more disturbing in that that they were considering 'loading' me because of my lack of regular driving experience in the UK!! (I didn't pursue either!)

Good luck tho' and I'll gladly liobby my MP for you.

Kind regards
The Swinging Monkey

[airborne_artist]

BUS

Presume you joined and were not pressganged, so you have the option to leave if you don't like the terms.

Perhaps there's a Mrs BUS, and little BUSlets - who is going to pay the the BUSlets school/health whilst you aren't paying tax, and if Mrs BUS is a stay at home mum, who is going to cover her health etc?

If you want to be paid tax free, then you could leave MoD and work in the Middle East, but I can't see Dodgy Military Contracts Ltd paying Mrs BUS a widow's pension if you get slotted.

FYI the French military are on very poor pay compared to the rest of NATO.

[Big Unit Specialist]

AA,

You seem to have missed the point - only tax free when we are being shot at etc. I know it's my job etc but at least Bodyguards are Us pay rates of $1000-00 per day AND have an insurance scheme that makes PAX Plus look like the joke it is.......

Mrs BUS works and pays tax so that takes care of the BUSlets healthcare and she is a teacher so that's covered too.....

The French military are paid a comparable rate to our own - discovered last month while chatting with a French chap whilst being rocketed by some nasty men.

How many months away from home have you spent in the last six years where people have been actively and enthusiastically trying to kill you?

I know, I signed on the dotted line a long, long time ago but what irritates me is the steady erosion of all the benefits I signed up for, not the increase in time away or the number of nasties we have to deal with. This tax thingy at a stroke would make an awful lot of servicemen and women more content with their lot 'cos the above mentioned packages (LSSA and OWP) are p!$$ poor and LSSA is taxed (give with one hand take away with the other).

Incidentally I have just been given a cunningly worded invitation to go to a hot sandy place next week for a bit to see if I can get my head chopped off while paying taxes for thieving immigrants (particular ones I have met in Dover) to live in a B&B and get benefits so they can fight extradition......

Rant not over but you're probably all bored now...... :E

[airborne_artist]

Just becuase Mrs BUS is working does not mean you can be absolved from paying for the little ones' school/health as/when you're off in the ulu dodging the incoming. I take it you do give Mrs BUS some beer/Chanel tokens at the end of the month?

It's not the tax you mind about, it's the fact that you are getting paid the same (less flying pay) what a blunty is getting for counting blankets, in which case you are back to taking the dirty money for a very dirty job in a sandy place, if what you want is danger money.

The BGs I know are earning the dosh - an ex-colleague working for a reputable firm got fatally hit last week - leaving a wife and son, but she's certainly not going to get what Auntie Liz would have paid.

It's a while since anyone aimed a shot at me - I took the view that I'd like to see all of my kids growing up, so I've been wearing a proverbial bowler hat for a while now, but it was my choice, and you have that also. See the civvy BBs on PPrune for the perils of working for the private sector (one month's notice and all that...)

Gordon won't wear it - the next thing he'd have all kinds of other special cases (some of whom can go on strike) claiming special treatment.

Save your MPs time for something he/she can vote on that makes a difference.

[Big Unit Specialist]

and another thing....

the point of this post was to garner support for a bit of equality among the allies(?), and to show that a bit of effort from the electorate (albeit in Canada) can get things changed to the benefit of the country's servicemen who are increasingly expected to go away at the behest of the government for protracted periods of time - some of my colleagues are on their third 4 month tour in Iraq!

What do you suggest I get my MP to do, attempt to change the archaic child access laws that favour embittered mothers....but that's another rant (and that was Mrs BUS v1 - mad as a hatter I tell you!)

Oh and it is the tax I mind about 'cos no bu##er emptied my bin, I had to dig my own toilet, the roads were full of holes (mainly mines) and the police were as likely to shoot at me as the rest of the nasties! Those who count blankets or mozzie nets in nasty places deserve the tax back aswell! So there!

[The Swinging Monkey]

AA

Come on old chap, give BUS a break! The points he makes are extremely valid, and I for one agree with him. This is NOT about Mrs BUS or their offspring, it's about the continued erosion of what (very) few benifits we had, being further lost.
Why should we have to pay income tax when we spend so much time out of the country?
Why should we not get a rebate on our council tax, car tax and insurance costs?? Whats wrong with that?
As for your comments about blunties - well I can only assume that such a sad statement can only have come from an ex Bluntie?? Is that the case AA??? if so, bu$$er off - this is an aircrew forum!
The fact is, people like BUS (and many more) are risking their necks for the likes of imigrants, asylum seekers and goodness knows who else. He sees all of his benefits rapidly being lost, and yet the benefits of those others rapidly increasing. Ultimately IT IS NOT FAIR and frankly it needs to stop, fairly soon I would suggest.

BUS, as I said earlier, I doubt you will get anywhere, 'cos it will cost £££££ and thus you are on a loser! Nevertheless, you win the morale argument every time, and fools like AA only prove the point.

Kind regards to you and Mrs BUS!
The Swinging Monkey

[airborne_artist]

When I mentioned blunties I meant the (increasingly rare) ones who don't leave the UK except on a booze cruise or to go to Costa del Carlsberg. I'm just as full of admiration for all those in the sandpit, regardless of rank/trade.

As for it being an allies thing, well, the good ol' US of A does a whole load more for its vets than we will ever do - free college (university to UK) if they serve I think five years in the ranks. Their National Guard get pensions (pro-rata) and vet's health care. Some of that goes back to the abolition of the draft, when they had to make it an attractive option.

As for child access, I do agree (Mrs AA is the mk1 version, I add), but I have too many mates who have suffered. Get up a crane or chuck a purple prophilactic at A Bliar Esq if you want to get very annoyed.

I'm too old to be anything but cynical. If I don't like something I vote with my feet/wallet, but I appreciate it's not that easy for a serving guy to risk all in that way.

Swinging Monkey, check yr PM

[difar69]

I agree with the logic behind tax free for those deploying to the world's hot spots ( would certainly make my time out there feel a little more positive, rather than costing me my own money as it does at present), however the RAF/Treasury has very recently studied the feasability of the Tax Free wages option and conclusively said no. The reason? Compared to the USAF and RAAF we get paid higher rates across the rank structure and are welfare package/benefits are much more comprehensive! That 5 day old newspaper and generous 20min phone card a week are certainly equal f***ing alternatives!:mad:

[airborne_artist]

How would you handle this:

Northern Ireland - part of the UK, but an operational tour for some, still, despite the best efforts of all concerned.

tax free or tax paid?

[Big Unit Specialist]

NI - now there's a challenge. Any suggestion is going to be difficult but how about if you are on a tour not accompanied by your family? This then raises the question of what's the difference in the threat environment etc, etc oh, and what about the Royal Irish?
NI is unique and should have a unique benefits package - see, I told you it was easy!;)

AA, do you work in the treasury?

[BEagle]

Back in GW1, the politicos were able to do something for those of us who'd been away.....

Wrote to the local council asking about refund of poll tax. The astonishing answer I received was that by leaving my property empty whilst away, it would be considered a second residence and I would have to pay a higher rate of tax.....!!! As if I was some tax exile.

But Hesseltine then announced unequivocally that all those who'd been away would have their poll tax refunded. So, off went another letter and eventually I received the tax refund.

Somehow I can't really see the slimy gang in power at the moment lifting a finger to ease the taxation burden on those sent away for another of Trust-me-Tone's come-as-you-are-and-bring-a-bottle wars.

[Autorev]

AA,
Your catch all "if you don't like it just leave" is a very valid one...but with just two teeny weeny flaws....

a) most people who want to leave are prevented from doing so by pvr waiting times

and b) almost everyone is doing just that!

Its a good job they are reportedly wanting an RAF of only 40,000 people because the way they treat the majority of personnel they will have no problem achieving that figure.

BUS is simply stating his view that he (along with a great many others) doesn't feel he is being valued/remunerated/looked after by our IIP masters. Yes we would all like more dosh, whatever our job, but remember that a lot of the highly skilled aircrew and support staff cannot be replaced in a matter of weeks if we vote with our feet.

[airborne_artist]

BUS

I'm in the ranks of the self-employed - playing devils advocate on this occaision.

Autorev

Basically you've boiled it down - people feel underpaid for their hours/risks/responsibilities - entirely understandable. I accept that this only applies to pilots, but have you seen the rates now being paid in civvy street by the likes of Ryanair? Not the good pay/conditions of even 10 years ago. Expansion of the EU is only going to keep the lid on those rates.

See it from the outside - Gordon gives the services a "Risks and responsibilities" award - so why not policemen, and then....

I joined well before Maggie T was elected in '79, and gave us a 40% pay rise because we were so far behind - so I do know what it's like to do a lot for knack all.

[matkat]

I agree with Busses Idea,why not give our service personnel tax free wages whilst abroad? it"s not as if this Country cannot afford it! I cannot understand why there is a comparison with other nations salary levels it is really not relevent in this discussion.I left the RAF 15 years ago and if I work out of the Country for a certain period then my salary is tax free and is not compared to any other nationality this concession is perfectly legal and is implemented by a tax coding on my wage slips instead of a figure code the letter NT are there (meaning no tax)so if it"s okay for me as a civilian as a British citizen working overseas(not resident overseas)then why not for services people?to determine whether the tax free situation is valid or not,well the criteria is simple:is the theatre of operations within Great Britain or Northern Ireland(as in your passport) if yes then pay is taxed,if no your pay is tax free,simple really.
Matkat

[WorkingHard]

"should have a unique benefits package "
You have. No other employer offers the package which you currently enjoy. Yes you have a point about being shot at, bombed etc. but lets face it you volunteered for just that. Which other company offers a 38/16 year exit point on full pension AND full backdated inflation increase at age 55? As said above try RyanAir or BMI for example, you may just get a shock. 10 out of 10 for trying though

[scientia in alto]

Good on you BUS, it is about time that people decided to make their views known and your MP is a good start. I also feel that spending significant amounts of time away warrants an improved package.

My father used to say "the squeeky gate gets the oil!" (no Iraq pun intended)

SIA

[TAC Queen]

Just a little information for you all.
The Canadian Armed forces will shortly stop paying tax for each day spent in a operationonal theatre.

Heard it from a Canadian Admin Officer the other day.

[Hueymeister]

I do vaguely remember something coming 'round about this a while back..possibly an AFBLT visit. They had completed a survey after The Commons had issued a directive regarding this very issue. It concluded that as a whole we are in most respects better off than most of our NATO/EU allies. My fellow POW (Yank) out here confirmed today that they only get paid their wage Tax-Free to a specified limit, that being the most that a WO class 2 (US) could expect to take home Tax-Free.....still,however, not an inconsequential amount! The French are the poorest paid out of the lot (excluding former WarPac Nations with whom we now work), but the Frog POW on my unit hinted that they do take 'Troop Entertainment Facilities' i.e a 'Battle Field Brothel' when they deploy large amounts of troops! Come on Buff how about it? (I sincerely hope Mrs Huey doesn't read this!!!!!!!!!)

[Miss Kay Gridley]

Just to throw in one thought, anyone working in the Merchant Navy only pays tax for the percentage of the year they are actually in the UK. If I remember rightly that counts even if you are in UK national waters.

Somehow I think opinions may change rapidly if we ever needed our armed forces to defend the UK! :cool:

[The Swinging Monkey]

Working Hard,

I agree with you entirely, however you have missed the point BUS was making. Virtually ALL of the perks and allowances that we signed up to have been lost. Yes, the pension is still in place, but for how long?
And as for RyanAir and BMI, well you need to take a good long look at their allowance package. I don't see many of them living in tents in the deserts for months at a time. Likewise, I've seen the hotels and other perks they receive. Why do you think so many ex RAF pilots join the airlines??

Kind regards
The Swinging Monkey

[FEWNCOP]

AA,

You mention lot's of other's that could claim 'special treatment', and 'could go on strike'. Fact is, quite a few of us, certainly at one rather chilly RAF Stn covered for the last lot of 'public servants' that decided to strike. We suffered a 10 month leave ban. They get 16 percent. Our reward on return to the RAF? Go to the Gulf to join the war for 3 months. (Oh and 2.5 percent!)

Sorry mate, you obviously missed out on the fun, but things have changed since your day, and you need to realise that it's not the flying club it may have been when you were in the business.

I say, bring on tax free on deployment. We deserve something other than LSSA taxed at 40 percent!!

[Oggin Aviator]

You have. No other employer offers the package which you currently enjoy. Yes you have a point about being shot at, bombed etc. but lets face it you volunteered for just that. Which other company offers a 38/16 year exit point on full pension AND full backdated inflation increase at age 55? As said above try RyanAir or BMI for example, you may just get a shock. 10 out of 10 for trying though

You decide to work for RyanAir or BMI. Lets face it you volunteered. If you dont like it leave. Whilst in the employ of said airlines you dont get shot at, you dont live in the desert (or on a ship) for months at a time away from your families. You dont have to cover for other striking government employees (whilst not being legally allowed to strike yourself) and lose leave as a result. Correct that no other employer offers the package which we currently enjoy (!) - weighting both sides of the package leaves an imbalance which is the focus of this debate.

Although fortunate to be on an accompanied tour at the moment, I do speak from experience. My first tour was 40 months - of those 40 months I spent 30 at sea on exercises and operations around the world. Yes I volunteered for this lifestyle however did not expect to be away that much. I accepted it, it was (and still is) part of the job, however a tax free pay packet whilst away would have greatly increased my morale etc etc.

I believe (though correct me if wrong) that the RFA (thats Royal Fleet Auxillary) get tax free pay after a certain amount of time at sea. Why not the RN? (the role of a sailor in an RFA ship is pretty similiar to that of an RN sailor - and in the exact same location) Why not the Army or RAF if deployed overseas? LSSB or LSSA that are supposed to make up for this fact of service life do not equate to being tax free. So why not bin these allowances for deployed personnel and bring in tax free status - We don't have that many employees that this would seriously add to the defence budget however it would seriously increase the morale and retention of members of the Armed Forces. And if you say that's what the X Factor is also for then frankly the X Factor is not enough and needs to be drastically increased. If Baroness Dean of the AFPRB wants to come and talk to me about it, I would be quite happy to discuss this issue with her. How much do we waste on some aspects of defence spending? Millions!

Bottom line 1: Decide if you want to be major player on the world stage and invest properly in one of those enablers. If not, dont get involved so much.

Bottom line 2: Bin all the glossy magazines/IIP studies/more glossy magazines and spend what you save across the board on increasing the X Factor. Frankly who reads (or who has time to read) even half of the cr@p that gets produced? Why not send it out via email? Most people have email accounts these days. It would save a few trees as well.

Oggin

[WorkingHard]

Oggin Aviator - I was part of the team that produced the "Military Salary" all those years ago and the principles we held then still hold good today. It is VERY UNFORTUNATE that the principles have been hijacked, it seems to me, by senior personnel for their own benefit at the expense of other ranks; and I don't mean just "other ranks"
Many of the decisions are made by senior officers for stamping by the Treasury and as there is a finite amount of money any proposals that may affect those earnings, tax free or otherwise, at the top will be discarded by "suggestion" to the Treasury. The old LOA was always tax free and substantial for example and was recognised to be a way of "compensating" for being away from home soil. there are other examples that may have disappeared with the passage of time, I am out of touch now.
However we could list a few thing that are NOT available in civvy street: Education allowances, subsidised housing (may not be to your taste but is there), pensions, medical, dental, early retirement, generous leave, (is free travel with leave still there?) etc etc. As for hotels etc you quote, some are good but some!! you might prefer the tent and as the airlines get special rates the hotels dont always provide what you see in the brochure. And then there are the rosters - you might not like them. Yes I do speak from experience since until acouple of years ago I worked for one of them. Very happy with my retirement from both sides and no complaints about either.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Oggin

Actually RFA personnel are considered merchant seamen. When outside UK water they do not pay tax. RN personnel serving in RFA vessels (and RNR too these days) do pay tax, wherever they are. Yes, in the same ship.

[Oggin Aviator]

WorkingHard

Agree with most of what you say at the end of the day it is each to their own. The one difference however is the ultimate price you may have to pay whilst doing your duty, unlike civilian life.

AS for:
As for hotels etc you quote,
I dont think I mentioned hotels ......

[maxy101]

I do sympathise with the above posters, mainly because my Air Force parents went through the same thought processes years ago when stationed abroad. Their ex pat friends enjoyed an enviable lifestyle (tax-free, of course), whilst the poor old Services folk enjoyed their tax deducted at source.The Inland Revenue web site is quite informative at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk
and this page mentions Crown Servants
http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/cnr/faq2.htm

[Grimweasel]

It always amuses me that we are effectively paying back some of our wages to the people that pay us??? I mean, why don't they just not bother taxing us at all and just pay us a lower gross salary? It would surely save millions in beaucracy alone?

I agree that all allies doing the same job in the same ****ty countries (Iraq) should be free of government payments.

[Quagger]

Gets my vote - bin X factor, and let's have tax free deployments. I'm betting there wouldn't be a need for a DWR system (more cost saving)ect. There'd be awaiting list to go out:ok:

[Boss Raptor]

Bliar and his cronies dismantled the 'Foreign Earnings Deduction' back in 97, that allowed you to remain resident in UK but if out of the country for more than 9 months your tax rate was 0% - this type of deduction is still available in a majority of EU countries but not so here...this was certainly the case for civilians and one assumes transposed over to the armed forces

As such the only alternative available is a negotiated/agreed 'tax allowance' to cover sundry incidental expenses whilst you are away - this has been used across the board by many companies not limited to aviation - you cannot achieve as high a saving as under 'FE deduction' but at least it is something - as example I have agreed with the IR an allowance of £100 for every day I am outside the UK on company business (this is not paid but is deducted from my tax liability so if I am away 100 days a year I get £10,000 deducted from my gross taxable income) - whilst a friend of mine who works for a UK based multinational gets £200 a day which his company has agreed with the IR!

The attitude of the tax inspector that I dealt with was very positive - he saw the logic that if I was sweating my backside off in Nigeria as example I should have some 'benefit' over and above working in the UK and with the canx. of FE Deduction this was the obvious way to do legitimately do it within existing IR procedures.

[Big Unit Specialist]

Greetings all,

Having just returned from one deployment in May, I am now one month into another, this time in sunny Baghdad. I shall be writing again to my MP to express my opinion that I deserve a little more consideration when it comes to the tax thingy. The thing that got my goat this time was getting a pay statement with the tax taken off the LSSA at 40%........ grips just a bit.

So again to you all: write to your MP using the link on my original post - let's face it troops here in Iraq are newsworthy again...... if only as a political tool.:hmm:

ps weather's turned out nice again:}

[althenick]

Gents,

As I understand it, the Xfactor was brought in in the 1970's to try and cover things like overtime and allowances. I am 99% sure there was no mention of Tax so binning Xfactor and paying all you Serving folk a lower wage wouldn't actualy get rid of any cs's as such.

On a personal note I don't think they can pay you enough while your in a war zone. However to pay you danger money would be an addmittace by the MoD that the job was dangerous! - could any of you see Buff or any of his Senior CS's admitting to that in these days of 'who can we sue?' - no! I don't think so.

So the only way for this to go would be to give you all Tax free Salaries whilst outwith the European Union and Britsh dependencies :O I think loss would be offset by-

1/ The increase in retention - i'm sure a few of you out there would decide to stay in the services. Lowering the cost of Churn in the form of Pensions and training new personel

2/ Doing away with all the allowances - and the beurocrats that administer them :E

3/ Doing away with a fraction of the Civil servants that administer Tax.

I don't understand how HMG ahs got away with it for so long. I was told that while you were on one of her HMS's - it was effectively british territory and therefore you were subject to britsh tax (I assume its the same for Land/air bases overseas)- But that obviously isn't the case as RFA personell get there wedge untouched by Golden Brown. So a question, Does the NAAFFI manager on the Larger HMS's have to pay Tax???? What constitutes 'British territory' Do the Overseas Diplomats pay tax? Embassy's are regarded as British Territory so they must.

Just some thoughts:confused:

[Big Cat Handler]

The problem with the X factor is that it goes to everyone, including the fatty that has failed his fitness test and those rubber desk johnnies regardless of time in theatre.

It also goes to those who, purely because they're on the "wrong" unit or in the "wrong" job aren't "lucky" enough to be deployed. If you're going to make sure that everyone has the same opportunities to be deployed, you can justify what is effectively a drop in salary for those who stay at home. Much as l'd love the extra cash when I go on my second det this year in four weeks, I wouldn't want it to have come from the pay packet of someone else who was just as willing to go.

All I've left you with there is the option to recoup the money from those unable to deploy - hardly fair if it's a service injury, and impossible to get past discrimination laws anyway!

BCH

[tarbaby]

When I was with Libbies Fat Albert fleet. I heard somewhere (may have been a good rumour) that Long Haul BA got a tax reduction on earnings when out of country. On enquiry (Admin) I was told that if they did - we didn't!! Perhaps someone with an inside line to BA could ask some questions. Then ask your MP.

[Big Unit Specialist]

BCH,

WTF are you on about? If you are not part of the organisation doing the job out of the country in difficult places why should you receive extra pay? This is the question that the x factor does not address.

Tax exemption may well reduce those leaving early, taking option points etc..... oh, silly me the government wants to reduce numbers.

Note to self: Have a word.

ps must fly something big just went bang not very far away.....

[Scud-U-Like]

Sounds like a case of, "I want more cash, but some other poor fecker can stump-up the tax to cover it".

[BEagle]

I thought it was QoL, not dosh which was the primary concern these days?

As for US-style tax-breaks (spot the exchange officers who manage to fly overseas at the end/beginning of the month....) - fat chance. Not even worth wasting time over.

[LoeyDaFrog]

Great Idea!
Shame the sponging gits at westwhateveritis are more interested in linig thier pockets to vote for anything that would actually help those of use who do their dirty work.
Love the job, don't mind the travel too much and accept that I took HM's shilling, but it would be really nice to think that I was appreciatted just that little bit more.
Or is that me just being cynical....

[stuk]

Cracking Idea - have a tax free salary just like the spams et al once you are overseas. But of course you would have to take their lower rates of pay. Then of course what about the non-contributory pension - most civvie firms have either stopped pension plans based on earnings or required their employees to double their contributions. Of course no-one else gets more than about a months pay if they are made redundant unlike the 18 months pay plus the normal gratuity. What about paying for helath care and dentistry like everyone else does? The list is endless
If you don't like it then the door is there.

[Big Cat Handler]

BUS,

As an example, my Sqn has only sent some of its aircrew (and support staff) out on any of our recent dets, even though all of them may be willing and able to go. So should we take money off those who stay behind to give it to those who go? The alternative is for Tony to give more money to the Forces for pay, and there are two hopes of that one...

BCH

[Lee Jung]

I think it is important to separate allowances from tax. The plain fact is that the UK armed forces are the only people in the UK who have to pay full income tax if they spend time out of the UK.

Once again penalised for wearing the uniform. But the plain fact is that we are now such a minority the governement doesn't have that much to loose by letting us have the same tax concessions as the RFA. Conversely the minority status means they don't give a toss.

I will write to my MP, but the people to get behind this are the veteran's associations. Less that 200,000 people in the armed forces but a staggering 14 million that have worn it. If they were to present a coherent voice on this subject then the government would have to take notice.

But hey ho, pay your taxes in order to get no pension until you are 70 for an extremely paltry salary, when you take the 13% X-factor off it - We are fools I tell you.:{

[Big Unit Specialist]

BCH,

So exactly who on your Sqn would be paying for my tax exemption? If you say everyone then really I would be funding my own tax exemption when I am on those rare occasions back in the UK paying tax.

On another note have they been keeping you away from the wars recently? Does it make you feel inadequate? Do you wonder why?..........


There again they keep sending me away and I'm beginning to wonder why.........

And another thing: all those bl@@dy medals to pay to have mounted - uniform allowance? Doesn't even come close!

I'll get my coat.

[Big Cat Handler]

It's true, I haven't been to a good war for months now. Must be due for one.

Your tax exemption, and mine, will come from the half of the squadron that was kept at home to carry on working here while the rest of us were working away. Discuss.

[The Burning Bush]

There seems to be some misnomer here that the government would have to recoup the paltry sum it would lose from those chaps OOA not paying tax. Total rubbish, all that would happen is it would have slightly less money to waste on minority protest groups, NHS administrators and the like. Discuss.

[Unmissable]

Tax breaks...a great idea but....

The US DoD have to reimburse the IR (or whatever the US equivalent is) so the break is paid for by the defence (defense
?) budget. Therefore with a limited pot of gold, something else would have to suffer (ie equipment!!).

Secondly, the average US serviceman's take home wage is approx 28% allowances (they even receive a version of LOA at home). Therefore their pensionand wage structure is not something we would want parity with.

If it is going to be done then do it properly, ie through the treasury and without losing anything else. I don't see much chance, but I did recently fill in a survey on what I would like to see to improve morale (yes another one, but this one was based on 'quick wins' )and I DID put down operational tax breaks (as did others) and I DID see the final piece of paper go through to CAS with a 4* signature block...so the point is being made.

By the way , aside from the tax breaks, the most populat 'QUICK' wins were regrading of poor accommodation to ZERO cost and extended bank holiday weekends (ie back to the old days of report to work on Tue afternoon).

[Climebear]

'But the plain fact is that we are now such a minority the governement doesn't have that much to loose by letting us have the same tax concessions as the RFA.'

My understanding is that the RFA do pay tax when afloat; however, they have the ability to claim some of it back at a later date if they fulfill the qaulifying criteria/criterion (possibly more than 6-months away in the Financial Year). While that may seem like a good deal - have a look at their basic salary; they get paid significantly less than their RN counterparts for serving in the same bit of water with fewer defensive aids.

[althenick]

Having done it...

The criteria within europe* is you must stay for no more than 183 days in any one country after that you pay either UK or host country Tax. and as long as you stay out of the UK for 1 financial year then you are not liable for tax. For Non European countries it is tax free from the word go.

*With the Execption of Germany and The Netherlands - Everyone pays Tax forn the start in these countries.

The question is this... If RFA Personell are getting ANY kind of Tax break at all then why aren't The RN guys getting the same Breaks? They both serve on Government ships? Whats the difference?:confused:

[Lee Jung]

It it true that RFA pay is lower than the equivalent RN pay, but so are the working routines...4 months on then 2 and a half off. So this goes some way to explaining it.

As far as the military salary goes, take X-factor and uniform upkeep allowance off and you soon find we are not paid that well compared to civilians with equal responsibility, particularly for the long hours, time away etc. X-factor is there to compensate for the unusual conditions particular to service in the armed forces, not for time away where LSSA, LSSB come in.

There is NO valid reason why, if the RFA get there tax back after 6 months away in any rolling year ('away' can mean outside the 12 mile limit at midnight, hence the auxiliaries like to be out during the week, even when on FOST tanker duties, for example).

As has already been stated on this forum, most of our perks have gone and in return we are working harder than ever with more time away from the families. Swiss Tony and Incapability Brown - how about a break after Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Iraq, Fresco (up and coming civil service strikes).