Give us all a tax break, government urged

The government has been accused of taxing many British consumers out of holidaying overseas, Channel 4 reveals.

Some £1.5 billion is raised by the government from Brits holidaying abroad, representing a levy of £30 for each overseas trip, according to figures from the TaxPayers' Alliance.

According to the body, a family of four taking a trip to the US this summer faces an average tax bill equivalent to taking an extra child along for the trip.

"The credit crunch and soaring food and fuel costs are making it harder than ever for people to afford a well-deserved summer holiday abroad," said the TaxPayers' Alliance chief executive Matthew Elliott.

"Instead of hiking taxes on flying, Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling should give us all a tax break."

Some 45 million overseas holidays are taken by British people every year.

Their trips attract various levies, including air passenger duty, airport departure tax, and an additional charge on travel insurance, which is subject to insurance premium tax.