Play Darts, Pay Tax

A treasured British tradition may become the next victim of overzealous taxation in that nation. There are plans to levy additional taxes on pubs that have dartboards, host "quiz nights" or field soccer teams. Pubs deemed "popular" will be singled out for higher taxes under the scheme. They are literally proposing taxing fun.

Gordon Brown became embroiled in a new tax row last night as secret plans to introduce a levy on pub quizzes were revealed.

Confidential orders to council tax snoopers, obtained by The Mail on Sunday, say 'friendly' pubs with quiz nights, football teams or dartboards will be forced to pay higher business rates, which will pay for Labour's public-spending programme.

The plan, which could lead to big tax rises for bars deemed 'popular', was last night condemned by the Tories, who claimed it could lead to landlords cancelling quizzes and other social events.

'In his usual stealthy way, Gordon Brown is planning a raid right into the heart of Middle England to tax the pub quiz,' said Shadow Local Government Minister Eric Pickles.

'Labour fails to understand that if pubs are charged extra taxes for supporting social facilities, landlords may just scrap them.'

The pub-quiz tax is disclosed in guidance notes drawn up by the Government-run Valuation Office Agency, which is carrying out a review of every business in the land using a 60-page instruction booklet entitled the Non-Domestic Rating Referencing Manual.

The agency is carrying out a similar survey of all UK homes using a £13million computer database run by secretive American contractors.

So, will they levy higher taxes on homes that have dartboards? I would not be at all surprised if that was the next development. Because pubs that host social events will be forced to charge higher rates to cover the taxes, making them lose to lower-priced, non-entertaining pubs. So the first flush of revenue the government will cease almost at once as pubs drop the activities that bring the tax man down on them. That will leave the government with a new revenue shortfall - so they'll tax something else. The Beatles saw this coming, didn't they?

Now my advice for those who die, (taxman)
Declare the pennies on your eyes. (taxman)
(Lennon/McCartney, Taxman)