I suppose Daily Mail types will be pleased that there's to be an increase in the threshold over the next four years. I think they're just being greedy.
Opponents of inheritance tax say that it is a 'double tax' - the dead person has already paid tax on their earnings. However, that person is now dead, so why should they care what happens to their money? You can't take it with you.
Inheritance tax redistributes wealth. Those it applies to can amply afford it - and they could always altuistically decide to redistribute their wealth prior to their death. A tax on rich mean people sounds like a great idea to me, and this is it.
I actually feel most sorry for the extremely privileged - those lords etc who lose the family stately home because they can't pay the inheritance tax without selling it. There's something romantically sad about it, a losing of tradition and stuff. But don't ask me to feel sorry for some middle class family in London who always intended to sell their parents' home and cash in on the huge (unearned) profits homeowners make.
2006-03-23 @ 21:50