In England, a "tax-payer" is a person who pays a standard, fixed  INCOME TAX, (a tax on earned income, wage, salary), to the Central Government in London.  The rules regarding INCOME TAX are decided each year in April, at Budget time.  Usually, there are not large changes.  This Tax goes to pay for Central Government expenditure --- Defence; Education; National Health Service; Hospitals; Courts; Unemployment Payments; Social Security Benefits; etc.

 

A "rate-payer" was a person who owned PROPERTY, (a house, land, business premises, etc), and this property was valued and charged at a Local RATE  per Pound Sterling of the value of the Property.  This RATE varied every year, sometimes by large amounts.  "Ratepayers" paid "RATES" to the Local Government in their area, to the Town Council.  It was similar to a Local Tax.  These RATES went to pay for Local Government expenditure --- Cleaning Streets; Refuse Collection; Libraries; Local Amenities; Clinics; Police; Housing; Parks; etc.  Different towns had different RATES, depending on Local conditions, and depending on the efficiency/inefficiency of the Local Council.

 

In the past, generally speaking, people who owned property were �rich�, so they paid RATES.  People who did not own property were �poor�, so they  paid NO RATES.

 

However, in recent years, the gap between �rich� and �poor� narrowed, and many working-class people were able to buy their own houses, but they were not �rich�.  So, a change was made in the law regarding RATES. 

 

Now there are no "Rates" for privately-owned properties, but there is a "Council Tax", which the majority of people pay, (Property Owners and those who pay rent), similar to Rates, to the Local Authority.  Some people receive discounts or are exempt from paying.

 

Financial matters are more complicated than this, because Central Government makes Grants of money to Local Government for Housing, Education, etc.  But this is a broad outline of the situation.

 

I hope that I have helped you to understand a little.

 

 

You are right!

 

The present local tax is called the �Council Tax �.

 

Thanks!

 

Les 

 

Here, a rate-payer is a homeowner.   There are two lots of �rates� incurred which in effect are taxes.  They are �local govenrment/council rates� for the priviledge of living in that council�s area and having access to the services (library, sports facilities, footpaths, local roads, parks, playgrounds etc).  Then there�s �water rates� which is for being connected to the water system.  It includes a certain amount of water consumption and then the rest is �user pays�.

 

A tax-payer is an income earner who earns over the income tax threshold and thus is required to pay tax.

 

Cheers

 

Jayho

Sophia

 

Cheers

 

Jayho