Leaked Documents Reveal Plans to Triple UK Broadband Tax
The 50 pence monthly broadband internet levy planned by the the government of the United Kingdom had already earned its share of controversy, which even prompted the Conservative Party of the UK to publicly flay it, besides announcing that they would scrap the tax if elected back to power in the coming general election.
Meanwhile, a report published by the Times, last day has freshened up the controversy to a different level. The report said that the controversial broadband levy planned by the government on the telephone lines across the country could be tripled, according to a leaked document.
The Revenue and Customs drawn-up document, showed that the number of fixed telephone lines rented by the people could be the criterion to adjust and fix the GBP 6 annual broadband tax, and that it would be adjusted by the ministers. The newspaper also revealed the fact that more than 1.7 million people in the United Kingdom had more than one telephone fixed line connection.
According to the newspaper’s revelation the homes with one fixed phone line and a separate one for fax or home broadband would also be subject to the new rule. This means that the families with all three lines could end up being slapped with a GBP 21.15 a year levy, in place of the GBP 6 per year original proposal.
To worsen the controversy, the Times found in the paper, leaked to the Tories, notes detailing an annual windfall of GBP 30 million for the Treasury, with a plan to top up the broadband levy with VAT charges, also apparent in it. The Times pointed out that this could essentially be the creation of a tax upon a tax.
