I have bought some goods from O/S and even with the GST added, I would have saved some money. However buying from O/S is not something I do on a regular basis.

What I suspect will have a greater affect is the falling Australian dollar, so for a while domestic goods will perhaps be of the same value as O/S goods.

So in reality not having GST paid on imports from over seas is a real furphy. As long as the goods are cheaper than the prices charged in Australia, people will buy and import goods from over seas.

To really discourage people from buying and importing goods from overseas, the GST charged on those goods would need to be in vicinity of 30-40%.

We are all living above our means.
We need higher taxes, general, business and GST to fix the problems and create to steps to growth.
We need to kill the cash economy.

Yes Chris, we are headed for a train wreck.

While I don't have a problem with a cashless society, what we need more than anything is a fair for all tax system. A small flat tax on all transactions. I do believe it's getting closer.

Wolly B,

This thread is about tax paid by individuals and you post twice a link to an article on the federal budget.

The net tax paid (taxes paid less grants returned) is paid overwhelmingly by the high income earners, and this can be found from treasury data.

Under declaring income would seem to be a very easy way to dodge tax. Unfortunately for high incomer earners, their income is declared by their employers, and for those running businesses, regular audits make it extremely difficult to hide income and fake expenses. There are very few people that have access to tax havens that can get away with false declarations of income, and if they get caught the tax penalties and jail time is a strong deterrent.

Yes SM, big business does not fake their incomes as they are listed companies and have serious penalties in place should they do so. They do however minimize their taxes where possible, and where legal and we must remember, while to fed treasurer is on say $500K per year, the accountants in many of these large companies have larger expense accounts than that, so whos out smarting who.

Small business on the other hand, in most cases, are flat out raising enough cash flow to keep the wheels turning, mostly because so many large companies often drag their cerditors out.

Sure, there are taxes that should be paid, that are not, but, would we prefer the taxes raised through the jobs they create, or, would we prefer far less jobs and 30% of much less.

I know which one I would prefer. Its all about balance and there is always more than one side of a story, except the full truth often does not have the same appeal.

Chris
Only an idiot thinks that more tax makes society richer.

If your theory is right, why not make the tax rate 100% for everyone?

But if not, by what rational criterion do you decide the cut-off point? (Hint: there isn't one.)