Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by briandear 3377 days ago
Why not just cut GST for everybody? Instead of taxing Uber more, tax taxis less. Drivers and Uber still pay income taxes, fuel taxes, relevant tolls right? If they want to simplify taxes -- as they claim, the best way to simplify is simply to eliminate.

Lower fares mean more revenue for drivers and Uber and thus more income taxes collected. Removing taxes from goods, means lower prices which means you sell more and then generate more tax revenue. Laffer Curve 101.

2 comments

>If they want to simplify taxes -- as they claim, the best way to simplify is simply to eliminate.

Because consumption taxes are the most efficient form of taxation. You want a private chauffeur? Pay up.

>Lower fares mean more revenue for drivers and Uber

Huh? Only if the driver is working a lot harder.

It's possible if there's significantly higher utilization to offset the decreased cost. Today a significant portion of the driver's time is waiting around doing nothing.
Companies that collect GST also get back from the government any GST they spend. So effectively they don't have to pay for GST/HST on fuel, maintenance, even a new car. Companies that don't collect GST/HST (people with sales under $30k, exempt service providers like doctors, etc...) cannot claim any input tax credit and have to pay it just like regular individuals.