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May 16, 2005
Given a choice I will never pay my tax!
I was reading a beautiful book written by Robert Kiyoski called ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’. In the book the author discusses about ‘how the concept of tax came in being.’ Previously tax was levied only on the rich, and the money collected from them were disbursed among the poor or used for the betterment of the society. Later it so happened that the rich invented various ways to escape tax and the whole burden of tax fell upon the middle class while the poor never came into the tax bracket!
Study says that in India only 6 per cent of the population pay their tax properly. Rest either escape it or have never heard about what tax actually means.
After my education, which was sponsored by my father and not by the government, I was jobless for around 3 months. Neither the government came to my rescue nor did they ask me whether I had enough money for food & survival. And the moment I joined my first job 5 per cent tax was deducted from my salary without my knowledge. They said it was TDS - Tax Deduction at Source.
After I became permanent in my 2nd job, the tax had risen to 33 per cent! Meaning out of 30 days in a month, for about 7 days I work for the ministers, the MLAs & the MPs! I wonder for what purpose my hard earned money is used.
Is my tax used for –
Giving me home & shelter? - I pay the govt the land tax, I pay for registration, and also I pay for getting the home approved.
Giving me water? - I pay my water tax for using it
Giving me electricity? - I pay in thousands to get my own connection, and also I pay for my electricity bill
Giving me roads? - The roads are always pathetic, and if I am plying my own vehicle I pay my road tax
Providing me buses & trains? - I always buy my tickets
Giving me food? - There is no government institute that gives food for free, that way ISKCON (International Society of Krishna Consciousness) is better they at least serve free lunch everyday
Giving me security? - I pay my local gurkha for that, and it is ages I saw a constable in my area who is patrolling. Also they have not come to inquire about my Venus (dog) who was stolen 3 months back
Saving Kashmir from Pakistanis? - To be honest I am least interested in a place that I cannot visit or a place that always been a matter of controversies due to political interests
The rich always have a learned auditor with them who knows how to manipulate the income & expenses. End of the day the income shown by most businessmen is not more than 1 to 1.5 lakhs per annum!
The poor aren’t poor as they seem. Only that their money is not accounted properly. I knew a friend whose father’s income on paper was Rs 1500 per year. He got his scholarship during his studies. It was later I came to know that his father had some 4 acres of land that grew grapes, and he earned some 6 lakhs per six months!
The middle class is the only segment whose income is always accounted, and they are most affected of the lot. They cannot escape the tax as they are cut even without their consent.
Of course any country needs money to run their society, but then the society has to give something in return - at least for the people who pay their taxes sincerely.
Comments are welcome!
Posted by Kenni at May 16, 2005 09:44 AM