VAT to increase?!

From Norman Hyde's website:

: UK VAT rate change from 4th Jan 2011

: In his 2010 Emergency Budget the Chancellor announced an increase
: in the standard rate of VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent
: effective from 4 January 2011. So if you've been thinking about
: updating your motorcycle with parts or accessories... Don't delay -

http://www.normanhyde.co.uk/news.php?id=89

A 20% sales tax? That seems extreme to me. I thought our BC, Canada
HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) was steep at 12%.

SQ

 

It's higher in some other European countries.

A number of things are also zero-rated for VAT.

 

Not (new) motorcycle parts, I'll warrant.

 

Indeed not.

 

Do you have to pay Federal sales tax too (GST?) -- it's too
long[24] since I lived in Wancouver, so I unforget all the details. Used
to keep getting caught out in The States because they displayed the
pre-tax prices on the shop shelves.

[24] 24 years.

--
Ivan Reid, School of Engineering & Design, _____________ CMS Collaboration,
Brunel University. Ivan.Reid@[brunel.ac.uk|cern.ch] Room 40-1-B12, CERN
GSX600F, RG250WD "You Porsche. Me pass!" DoD #484 JKLO#003, 005
WP7# 3000 LC Unit #2368 (tinlc) UKMC#00009 BOTAFOT#16 UKRMMA#7 (Hon)
KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".

 

Yes. HST = GST + PST. Plus, there's a carbon tax on fuel
and an "environmental tax" on tires. Pretty soon there'll be
a "sex tax" on making love, and you'll need a permit number
tattooed on your butt.

SQ

 

Dunno about that - the sex police won't be able to read it if she's on
top - oh - she's got one too?

That's a completely different kettle of^h^h^point of entry then.