Will Cost of Dying Increase in the UK?
If you think it’s expensive to bury a loved one in the United States, take a look at this story from the UK.
If the European Commission decides to revoke the tax-exempt status that applies to cremations and burials, funeral directors could pass those costs on to the consumer. That means paying more for the services, the funeral cars, the burial and other aspects that typically go along with today’s funerals. Unfortunately, it’s a 17.5 percent tax that consumers could get stuck with in the midst of some difficult and trying times.
John Whittaker, an official close to the situation, had this to say about the possibility of passing this tax on to consumers: “As if we didn’t have enough to worry about with the cost of living. Now it’s the cost of dying as well.” Hilary Jones, a local funeral director in Wirral, also had an interesting comment: “You may only live once but they want to tax you twice.” It seems there isn’t much difference between the UK government and the United States government, eh?
How would this affect the funeral industry over there? People may opt to have fewer services with each funeral. For instance, they may choose to drive their own cars to the burial or cremation site instead of paying to have the funeral cars transport them. Others may choose shorter visiting times and other ways to help cut the costs of the funeral. If you had to pay extra taxes when burying a loved one, would you cut out some services or would you want everything the funeral home offered? Let us know your thoughts below.
Filed Under: Funeral Cars
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