[HPforGrownups] Hogwarts letters Re: Choosing sides

[manawydan]

No: HPFGUIDX 119276

Kjirstem wrote:
> There is some indication that at least the Prime Minister knows about
> the WW (isn't there? I could have sworn there was but I can't find it
> now...).  I wonder how they deal with taxes.  I'd assume the WW pays
> for the Ministry of Magic, etc, but you'd think someone in the MW
> would get suspicious of Muggle-borns when they don't pay taxes.  I
> guess those Muggles never notice nuffink.

Well, canon tells us that the WW knows about the PM (because they have a
means of notifying the PM about certain things). It's far from clear that
the reverse applies, and the Statute of Secrecy would suggest that it
doesn't. My theory (which I've outlined before) is that the MoM has a
sleeper somewhere high up in the Muggle bureaucracy who can pass on
information to the PM if he needs to know it, albeit in a sanitised form
that a Muggle can comprehend.

Taxes? I doubt it. Income tax in the UK is paid through your employer or by
doing a tax return if you're self employed. But if you and your employer are
off the Inland Revenue's radar, they're not going to come looking for you,
even if they knew you were there and knew where to look. The Statute of
Secrecy would mean that WW employers would be barred from bringing
themselves to Muggle attention anyway. The same would be true for indirect
taxes. We've only ever seen wizards using wizard shops (though I know some
on this list have theorised that they use Muggle shops also. If they do,
then the money they pay over (unless they leave without paying) would
include tax on certain items. Otherwise, they wouldn't. Likewise for
property taxes. Wizard houses aren't on the books with the council - why?
Because they're spelled not to be noticed unless someone looks really hard
for them.

Far more interesting thing to wonder about is how the MoM raises its
revenues - the WW economy seems far too determinedly anarchic to be as
closely ruled as the Muggle one!

Cheers

Ffred

O Benryn wleth hyd Luch Reon
Cymru yn unfryd gerhyd Wrion
Gwret dy Cymry yghymeiri