The World According To An I R A Apologist....

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42833048
Has anyone told McDonut he's not actually in government?
"He also warned that public anger over tax avoidance was building." - is it? we are doing it mate, including you!
"called for a new "Hippocratic oath" at Britain's large accountancy firms, warning that they must work to maximise the amount of tax their clients pay." - I love the naivety of that! - you pay the piper sunshine you call the tune. Who would hire an accountant to maximize their tax? Illustrates once again why labour have no clue how the economy works.

[Mamyalynne]

John McDonnell

[Deskdiary]

Love to see that fly!

Accountants can you please stop your clients from legitimately avoiding tax?

The man is a buffoon.

[Old_Geezer]

One individual not choosing his statements with basic common sense. Everyone should pay the right amount of tax. That's a fair viewpoint. But if there is a loophole allowing folk to pay less than the tax that was anticipated they should/would, then the government needs to close it. Accountants who work out convoluted ways to avoid tax that was never in the spirit of the rules, are the bad guys, but they are their client's bad guys.

[Deskdiary]

What is so wrong with individuals and companies only paying HMRC what they legally owe?

I just don't get why people get so upset over people legitimately avoiding tax.

If it's legal, there's noting immoral in it, but as Old Geezer states, if the Government don't like it, then they need legislate against it. And then when clever accountants find another legitimate way, they need to close that as well (our fantastically complex tax rules are the fault here).

There is nobody who would rather pay £100 tax if they can legitimately pay £50.

I'll leave you with an excellent answer posted by Ludwig last November on the question of tax avoidance.

"My neighbour told me he was buying a smaller car because he'd pay less road tax and spend much less on petrol, most of which is tax of course. He said he was going to put the money he made on selling his old car into a tax efficient ISA.

Immoral tax-dodging scumbag or what?"

[ToraToraTora]

"Everyone should pay the right amount of tax" - quite so and if it can be avoided, avoid it. It is the job of government to put in place measures that stop unintended avoidance. Does McDonut think we should simply "ease" up on avoidance to help them along? - would he? I doubt it, most of these lefties would make Genghis Khan look like a pacifist in fight over torn fiver.

[Old_Geezer]

He is doing what the government hoped, so no, that's hardly a scheme to avoid.

[ludwig]

Even Labour supporters must find the concept of maximising the amount of tax you pay a bit worrying.

I mean it's only ever other people that don't pay enough tax isn't it? Never ourselves.

[ToraToraTora]

"Even Labour supporters must find the concept of maximising the amount of tax you pay a bit worrying. " - not at all they simply put the percentage up to 97%, really encourages hard work and endeavour! Direct taxation is a very poor and expensive way to collect tax but the Trots love it because they can shaft the "rich".

[Old_Geezer]

Direct taxation is the best method of collecting tax. It's overt not stealth, and what you contribute fairly reflects what you have got out of society. Indirect taxation is taxes planned to hit one sector, and manipulate what individuals opt to do. Very questionable whether government should be doing that to its citizens.

[Deskdiary]

Can you define what you mean by "got out of society" please?

[Old_Geezer]

How much better off you have become as a result of being in and interacting with society.

[Deskdiary]

Sorry - still none the wiser.

I'm obviously missing something.

[cassa333]

There is a huge amount of tax avoidance by 'the little man' as well, it's not just big tycoons.

Cash in hand for a discount, no checks please. It's only £50 quid so let's say no more about it.

Whether you've said it or asked it you are as bad as the 'scumbag tax avoider tycoons'

Think on people.

[Deskdiary]

That isn't tax avoidance cassa, that is tax evasion - which is illegal.

[ToraToraTora]

that's tax evasion cassa, we are talking about tax avoidance.