TAXATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOMTaxation in the United Kingdom may involve payments at least two different levels of government: local government and central government. Local government is financed by grants from central government funds, business rates and council tax. Central government revenues are mainly income tax, national insurance contributions, value added tax, excise duties, corporation tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax and stamp duty. All UK derived income and gains are subject to UK taxation no matter the citizenship neither the place of residence of the individual nor the place of registration of the company. Individuals who are both resident and domiciled in the UK are additionally liable to taxation on their worldwide income and gains. For certain individuals, therefore, the UK is a tax haven: being resident but not domiciled in the UK means that only income remitted to the UK is taxed, together with all capital gains. A company is resident in the UK if it is UK-incorporated or if its central management and control of a company are in the UK. A company is domiciled in the UK if it is incorporated in the UK. A company’s domicile has no effect on its tax position – it pays tax on its worldwide income and gains. Income tax forms the bulk of revenues collected by the government. Depending on an individual’s income, the rate of income tax ranges from 10% (starting rate) to 20% (basic rate for interest), to 22% (basic rate), to 32.5% (higher rate for UK dividends), to 40% (higher rate). The second largest source of government revenues is national insurance contributions, payable by employees, employers and self-employed. The third largest source of government revenues is value added tax, charged at the standard rate of 17.5% on supplies of goods and services. Certain goods and services are exempt from VAT, and others are subject to VAT at lower rate of 5% (the lower rate) or 0% (‘zero-rated’). The fourth largest source of government revenues is corporation tax, charged on the profits and capital gains of companies. The highest rate is 30%, but lower rates apply to companies with levels of profits below 1.5 million pounds. Capital gains are subject to tax at the marginal rate of income tax (for individuals) or of corporation tax (for companies). Excise duties are charged on, amongst other things, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, betting and vehicles. Stamp duty is charged on the transfer of certain partnership interests at rates of up to 4%, and shares and certain securities at a rate of 0.5%. Modernized versions of stamp duty, stamp duty land tax and stamp duty reserve tax, are charged respectively on the transfer of real estate and shares and securities, at rates of up to 4% and 0.5%. Inheritance tax is levied on certain gifts and the estates of deceased persons at a rate of 40%. Any inheritance tax must be paid by the administrators of estate before probate is granted. Vocabulary
Exercise 2 Find the most suitable Russian equivalents to the following English collocations: Local government is financed by grants from central government funds; to be subject to UK taxation; no matter the citizenship neither the place of residence of the individual nor the place of registration of the company; to be additionally liable to taxation on their worldwide income and gains; only income remitted to the UK is taxed; the bulk of revenues collected by the government; employees, employers and self-employed; to be at the standard rate of 17.5%; profits and capital gains of companies; to be subject to tax at the marginal rate of income tax; the transfer of certain partnership interests at rates of up to 4%; modernized versions of stamp duty; to be charged at rates respectively of up to 4%; any inheritance tax must be paid by the administrators of estate.
Exercise 3
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