Stamp duty: why don't we start a national protest!

[red]

It will be intersting with the announcement of stamp duty taking a 12mth holiday whether this kick starts the market.

Cant say am convinced. The fact it is a declared 12mth period doesnt add thesame advantages in my opinion.

[Tony]

it won't affect the London market as it is too low. Can you buy a property in London for less than 175000?

[gabriel]

IMO, the latest move by the govt will do little to help anyone. My original point still stands: the scale of charges is unfair and penalises people with a property priced around £275k. The best offer you're likely to get is £250k, as the buyer wants to save that extra £7k of stamp duty. A more gradual sliding scale would be much better. But I know I'm whistling in the wind...

[Jorumian]

I think the move is simply a case of lip service, an attempt to allay fears that the government are taking no action, by doing something that has little real impact for the vast majority. A rather transparent attempt at duping the populace into feeling the Government understands their predicament, and is actually taking steps to alleviate the problems.

I agree with Paul, reducing Stamp duty, which is a discretionary tax applied in a set of circumstances that may only arise, once or twice in a lifetime, has markedly less fiscal impact at Government levels, than something akin to a 50% reduction in fuel duty, or say doubling the individuals personal tax allowance. Which are about as likely to happen as Tony Blair and Gordon Brown tying the knot in a civil ceremony, on the moon. Such measures would have a real, immediate and positive impact on individuals standard of living, but also, due to the spending we are currently committed too, mean that the Goverment would then have to raise this money another way. Probably through Stealth taxes, or if push comes to shove, the introduction of new legistation (pay per mile for road tax? Congestion charges? It is coming...)

Government is all about proclaiming loud and clear that they are giving with one hand and while whispering and hoping nobody notices them taking double what they have given, with the other.