Britons hit by £2bn tax bill for holiday season
Taking a break has cost British holiday goers £2bn in tax last year, according to research by the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA). That's a £500m increase on the same estimate in 2008.
The TPA's research found that a family of six travelling to Spain would see an average tax bill of £187, while a trip to Florida for a family of four would see a government imposed cost averaging £350.
Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:
People work hard all year to make ends meet, despite high taxes and rising prices. They look forward to a holiday as a blessed relief but sadly the tax man is waiting even when they try to take a well-earned break.
Britain's exceptionally high taxes on flights in particular make holidays much more expensive, as well as making it harder for Britain to compete as a destination for tourists and business investment. The Government should cut Air Passenger Duty and make flying more affordable.