<p>In the UK, government spending is <a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/united-kingdom/government-spending-to-gdp" rel="nofollow noreferrer">38.5 per cent of GDP</a>.  To oversimplify, that means that for every £1 spent on private goods, 63p needs to be raised in taxes.  At present, the UK raises <a href="https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/4001/economics/tax-revenue-sources-in-uk/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">a little over a quarter of that</a> from income tax.  One of the reasons income tax is a significant component is that it is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_tax" rel="nofollow noreferrer">progressive</a>, unlike other major sources such as VAT and excise duties.</p>

<p>It is also worth mentioning that the categories of government expenditure you mention are relatively small.  <a href="https://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Half of all government spending goes on pensions, healthcare and education</a>.  The categories you mention are marginal by comparison.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-19T09:15:07.253Z
2019-08-19T09:15:07.253Z
Dan
<p>Granted, I expect this question could be easily answered, but I cannot find a definitive reason as to why income tax is pinned at such a high rate in the United Kingdom.</p>

<p>I'm not much of an economist, but I do understand the function of national insurance, and I do understand the function of a tax to fund the various essential organs of the state (Monarchy, Government, Parliament, Intelligence Services,and Defense and Protection forces). However, I don't get why, if I earn around 40k (Sterling), a large portion, around 15% (which is around 5-6k), is taken for income tax. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-16T14:54:49.853Z
You yourself wrote that it goes to fund various state functions. What exactly are you asking? You can check out how much of the money goes where in the UK budget.
Giskard
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-16T14:55:56.430Z
P.s. A tax rate of 15% is [low](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_rates_in_Europe) by EU standards.
Giskard
<taxation>
Why is income tax so high? (UK)
user24016
# Why is income tax so high? (UK)

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-08-16)

Granted, I expect this question could be easily answered, but I cannot find a definitive reason as to why income tax is pinned at such a high rate in the United Kingdom.

I'm not much of an economist, but I do understand the function of national insurance, and I do understand the function of a tax to fund the various essential organs of the state (Monarchy, Government, Parliament, Intelligence Services,and Defense and Protection forces). However, I don't get why, if I earn around 40k (Sterling), a large portion, around 15% (which is around 5-6k), is taken for income tax.

**Tags:** taxation
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You yourself wrote that it goes to fund various state functions. What exactly are you asking? You can check out how much of the money goes where in the UK budget.  
> **username_1**: P.s. A tax rate of 15% is [low](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_rates_in_Europe) by EU standards.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-08-19. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

In the UK, government spending is [38.5 per cent of GDP](https://tradingeconomics.com/united-kingdom/government-spending-to-gdp). To oversimplify, that means that for every £1 spent on private goods, 63p needs to be raised in taxes. At present, the UK raises [a little over a quarter of that](https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/4001/economics/tax-revenue-sources-in-uk/) from income tax. One of the reasons income tax is a significant component is that it is [progressive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_tax), unlike other major sources such as VAT and excise duties.

It is also worth mentioning that the categories of government expenditure you mention are relatively small. [Half of all government spending goes on pensions, healthcare and education](https://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/). The categories you mention are marginal by comparison.


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