Alan B: For years now you've been harping on about replacing all taxes with a 15% flat tax*. But have you actually done any calculations to show that this will work? And if you have, then can you give us a broad outline of the figures- eg. the total amount your tax will raise

In case you've never done such calculations (which personally I'm 99%+ sure of) here's a staring point for you that you need to consider:
The federal government, for the last couple of decades or so, spends about 25% of the nations GDP per year. Note that this figure is *only* for the federal government, not the states- the combined spending of all governments is higher than this!

*:I assume you've always meant 15% for all entities not just individuals. eg: businesses, charities, etc pay 15% as well. And I assume that for non wage earning individuals and other entities this was on profits not gross income. You've never been very clear what you mean by 15% flat tax.

Tax avoidance happens because the loop holes allow it !

Governments have Tax loopholes & Councils have road potholes ! Why ? Because the bureaudroids in both outfits are holes of the same kind !

Thinkabit: So how did you decide that they were well over-priced? Considering that you received *seven* quotes and at least six were in your opinion over-priced, I think it's more likely that your expectation was well under-priced.

Well, this is a rundown for 45 X 450mm Tiles & 6 Straight Cuts.
$1800 @ $40/t
$1500 @ $34/t
$1200 @ $27/t
$1005 @ $22/t
$950 @ $21/t
$850 @ $19/t
$800 @ $18/t
6 straight cuts

The Rate, according to QPS, is $4.50/t

Therefore, Yes, I think it was a little excessive. The only one that included GST was the $1800 Quote. I guess They didn't want to waste time on such a little job. Every Quote was from someone of Asian or Middle Eastern Descent. The same with my Quoting for my Painting Job.

These people are not paying their fair share of Taxes. Actually, I have a good mind to pass their Names on to the Tax office. I do have their Cards.

thinkabit on that.

Jayb: "The Rate, according to QPS, is $4.50/t"

But Jayb we live in a free market based economy. We *don't*, in the main, have mandatory set rates for services (nor should we in my opinion)- if you do want to pay set rates/prices for things then leave the country and live somewhere else.

If you ask for seven quotes and they are all way more than you expected to pay then it means (all most certainly) that you anticipated to pay well less than the current market rate. The chances that seven random tradies all give quotes no where near the market rate are very very small. This is because we live in a free market based economy and if a tradie consistently quotes too high they will eventually go out of business since they won't get customers.

As for them not paying taxes- well this would actually mean that they can quote even lower than the law abiding tax paying tradies. So the going law-abiding market rate would be even higher still than you expect.

But having said thay; yes I agree that you should dob them in. Because I pay a hell of a lot in tax ever year (hundreds of thousands of dollars) and if I have to pay tax than they should too.

Calculations thinkabit? There for all to see except dummies like yourself.
Alan B.