Member ‘Northwind’ recently posted that it was ‘a simple lie’ that ‘travellers’ (I refuse to use the word ‘Gypsies’ because they are a race) ‘pay no taxes’.
Sadly, or conveniently (depending on your bent), the thread was closed before anyone could challenge this statement.
So let’s look at the facts shall we?
According to http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/community/travellers/faq.htm
‘It is true that Travellers do not pay rent or council tax on unauthorised camping sites, as they are not legally allowed to reside there.’ My emphasis.
How about VAT?
Some houses down our road have had drives laid by vehicles emanating form an unauthorised ‘travellers’ site. All the bills were paid cash, no trading names or VAT details were provided.
So, I guess you could indeed argue that ‘travellers’ do pay some taxes (i.e. when buying stuff they might pay the VAT we all pay), but it is also true that many don’t pay other taxes that apply to law abiding folk (i.e. don’t routinely break the civil offence of trespass).