• Jimmy Carr and Take That under investigation for tax avoidance
    40 replies, posted
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18521468[/url] [quote=BBC News][B]Prime Minister David Cameron has said the tax arrangements of comedian Jimmy Carr are "not morally right".[/B] Carr is understood to be a member of a legal, but aggressive tax avoidance scheme, which is said to be sheltering £168m a year from the Treasury. According to the Times, Carr told an audience on Tuesday: "I pay what I have to and not a penny more." HM Revenue and Customs has said it is taking "firm action to protect the Exchequer from unacceptable tax loss". More than 1,000 people, including Carr, are thought to be using the Jersey-based K2 scheme. Under it, an individual resigns from their company and any salary they subsequently receive is paid to an offshore trust. The individual then receives a small amount of that as salary and the rest as a loan, which because it can technically be recalled, does not attract tax. [B]'Preparing to litigate'[/B] The Times is also reporting that Take That band members Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen have used another partnership run by Icebreaker Management Services. It provides tax relief in return for investments in the music industry. HMRC said it had already successfully challenged one avoidance scheme run by Icebreaker, which it refers to as Icebreaker 1. "This type of scheme will fail where there is circular borrowing which serves no economic purpose or which cannot, in fact, be used in a trade," a spokesman said. "We are now preparing to litigate Icebreaker 2 but for legal reasons cannot say more at this time. "We examine the implementation of avoidance schemes in detail and will not let any aspect of these cases go unchallenged." The spokesman added: "We have taken firm action to protect the Exchequer from unacceptable tax loss. "We do not accept that the Icebreaker tax avoidance schemes have the tax effects their promoters claim." In his Budget speech in March, Chancellor George Osborne described illegal tax evasion and legal, but aggressive tax avoidance as "morally repugnant". According to the Times, the K2 scheme allows someone on an income of £280,000 to reduce their tax bill from £127,000 to just £3,500. [B]'Outrageous'[/B] Carr was reportedly confronted over his financial arrangements during a show in Tunbridge Wells, in Kent, by an audience member who shouted: "You don't pay tax." His lawyers have insisted he has done nothing wrong, but the Treasury has said K2 is already being investigated. The Times also quoted lawyers for Barlow, Owen, Donald and their manager Jonathan Wild who said all four paid significant tax and did not believe the Icebreaker programme was a tax avoidance scheme. A spokesman for Icebreaker Management Services Ltd said the firm "recognises the need for the proper administration and collection of taxes, and that it is essential that anyone who seeks to make use of tax relief does so properly and within the law". "Abuse of the tax system for personal gain is, of course, never acceptable," he added. Writing in the Sun on Wednesday, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said most people found it "outrageous" that the wealthiest people were using "ever more obscure and underhand" methods to avoid tax. "Frankly, I think people who dodge the tax system are the moral equivalent of benefit cheats," he said. And he added: "No matter how rich or famous you are, we are coming to get you."[/quote]
Who?
[QUOTE=Madman_Andre;36413212]Who?[/QUOTE] crap comedian and some singers
I really hate it when rich and financially wealthy people don't pay the government taxes especially those who abuse legal loopholes
[img]http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m53p11PXfc1qbzs4lo1_500.gif[/img] I like Jimmy Carr.
I don't blame them, the rates for them are most likely astronomical.
[quote]Prime Minister David Cameron has said the tax arrangements of comedian Jimmy Carr are "not morally right".[/quote] only because he comes from a similar background as you.
Kind of ironic considering how Jimmy has on occasions made fun of tax dodgers
lol gary barlow just got honoured by the queen as well.
Carr has issued this statement [quote]I appreciate as a comedian, people will expect me to ‘make light’ of this situation, but I’m not going to in this statement as this is obviously a serious matter. I met with a financial advisor and he said to me “Do you want to pay less tax? It’s totally legal.” I said “Yes.” I now realise I’ve made a terrible error of judgement. Although I’ve been advised the K2 Tax scheme is entirely legal, and has been fully disclosed to HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs), I’m no longer involved in it and will in future conduct my financial affairs much more responsibly. Apologies to everyone. Jimmy Carr[/quote]
Its wrong that Cameron has used his position of political power to call out a single British citizen. Furthermore that these legal loopholes exist so Cameron's super rich friends can stay super rich. Legislate these loopholes already.
Usually I disagree with Ed Miliband, but in this situation I agree with him completely. [quote]But Labour leader Ed Miliband opted not to join in with the chorus of criticism of the 8 Out of 10 Cats star's tax affairs. He said: "I'm not in favour of tax avoidance obviously, but I don't think it is for politicians to lecture people about morality. "I think what the politicians need to do is - if the wrong thing is happening - change the law to prevent that tax avoidance happening."[/quote] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18531008[/url] [editline]21st June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=BCell;36413248]I really hate it when rich and financially wealthy people don't pay the government taxes especially those who abuse legal loopholes[/QUOTE] I agree, but I also think that the tax in the UK is currently ridiculous. I doubt so many people would be looking to avoid it if it were more reasonable. The income tax on anything over £150k is [B]50%[/B] I know many will read that and be of the opinion that being on such a large income means they don't need the extra money, but IMO that's irrelevant. 50% tax is ridiculous. If anything it's going to push people to look for loopholes or even leave the country and work elsewhere.
Jimmy Carr has a massive head imo.
I always thought Jimmy Carr was funny, but t be honest, I never really thought he was a nice person.
The scheme he was using is legal. If the government is upset, maybe they should close the loopholes instead of bringing so-called morality into it. Plenty of the rich (including many politicians) use schemes like this one. [editline]21st June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Jallen;36422947]Usually I disagree with Ed Miliband, but in this situation I agree with him completely. [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18531008[/url] [editline]21st June 2012[/editline] I agree, but I also think that the tax in the UK is currently ridiculous. I doubt so many people would be looking to avoid it if it were more reasonable. The income tax on anything over £150k is [B]50%[/B] I know many will read that and be of the opinion that being on such a large income means they don't need the extra money, but IMO that's irrelevant. 50% tax is ridiculous. If anything it's going to push people to look for loopholes or even leave the country and work elsewhere.[/QUOTE] Indeed, it's almost like saying "don't be 'too successful' or we'll come and take your shit"
Considering how Cameron's family made their money: [url]http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/apr/20/cameron-family-tax-havens?CMP=twt_gu[/url] I find it incredibly hypocritical for him to a) single out someone and b) call it 'morally wrong'.
I can't blame him at all. I sat down and worked out that after income tax, national insurance, duty and VAT paid out over the entire month on my wages for both jobs and goods including fuel I am putting over £700 per month in the government's pockets and for what? A health service which is crippled and money that is squandered on pointless government incentives leaving a huge deficit for them to only tax us further. If I were able to have my wages paid into an offshore account without any repercussions I would do it in a heartbeat.
The funny thing is that almost everything we spend on is taxed as well via VAT, stamp duty, fuel tax, road tax, inheritance tax (which includes simple cash gifts), corporation tax if you are self employed etc. etc. Even with the evasion of income tax, a massive chunk of your money will end up going to the government eventually. I bet Jimmy Carr's total annual tax contributions were still higher than the average worker's even with this income tax loophole. In almost every situation, every time you give or recieve money, be it for buying something, selling something, recieving your salary or pretty much anything, a percentage will be taxed. It's like every transfer of money is done through a sieve, because only some of it gets through.
Pot calling the kettle back :v:
[QUOTE=sam.clarke;36423857]If I were able to have my wages paid into an offshore account without any repercussions I would do it in a heartbeat.[/QUOTE] you can?
[QUOTE=Jallen;36422947]Usually I disagree with Ed Miliband, but in this situation I agree with him completely. [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18531008[/url] [editline]21st June 2012[/editline] I agree, but I also think that the tax in the UK is currently ridiculous. I doubt so many people would be looking to avoid it if it were more reasonable. The income tax on anything over £150k is [B]50%[/B] I know many will read that and be of the opinion that being on such a large income means they don't need the extra money, but IMO that's irrelevant. 50% tax is ridiculous. If anything it's going to push people to look for loopholes or even leave the country and work elsewhere.[/QUOTE] It's going down to 45%, and in return the government is increasing tax on pensioners. Because that's completely fair. I have no issues with the 50% rate on income, and I'm also hoping the government is going to crack down on both personal and corporate tax loopholes, however unlikely that is.
[QUOTE=joe588;36425630]you can?[/QUOTE] If you're able to get a bank account in the country and your employer is happy to do it for you, although your employer would probably know what you are up to and put a stop to it and the tax man would be asking questions as to why you had the account in a different country but if you can come up with a genuine excuse then you're good to go. One excuse I've heard from someone who has their wages paid into an account in Gibraltar at 0% tax is because they have family in Spain who are able to access the money easier than if it were tied up in the UK.
[QUOTE=Jallen;36422947]I agree, but I also think that the tax in the UK is currently ridiculous. I doubt so many people would be looking to avoid it if it were more reasonable. The income tax on anything over £150k is [B]50%[/B][/QUOTE] However, the Tory plan to scrap them was labelled by morons as "TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH LOLOL".
[QUOTE=Camundongo;36425812]It's going down to 45%, and in return the government is increasing tax on pensioners. Because that's completely fair. I have no issues with the 50% rate on income, and I'm also hoping the government is going to crack down on both personal and corporate tax loopholes, however unlikely that is.[/QUOTE] Don't be silly, how else is Cameron and his cronies going to stay rich.
jimmy carr's Irish, I wouldn't pay tax to the feckin english government if I was him.
[quote]I bet Jimmy Carr's total annual tax contributions were still higher than the average worker's even with this income tax loophole.[/quote] I bet Jimmy Carr's total annual wages were higher than the average worker.
Jimmy Carr is fucking hilarious and I would have done the same as him, given the opportunity.
[QUOTE=geoface;36427950]jimmy carr's Irish, I wouldn't pay tax to the feckin english government if I was him.[/QUOTE] British government... Born to Irish parents, lives in London, pays tax to the British Government.
[QUOTE=Matriax;36431653]British government... Born to Irish parents, lives in London, pays tax to the British Government.[/QUOTE] feckin english bastards
[QUOTE=geoface;36427950]jimmy carr's Irish, I wouldn't pay tax to the feckin english government if I was him.[/QUOTE] He was born to Irish Parents, but born in England, and, more importantly, lives in England, which is why he pays taxes to the English Government. (Not to say I'm defending how much they want him to pay, but he has to pay something)
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