People Being Lambasted For Reducing Their Tax Burden.

[Deskdiary]

Why all the pious posturing from the likes of Corbyn and McDonnell?

Is it now a crime in this country to save money?

As it stands the people named in the Paradise Papers have done nothing wrong - they have saved money through entirely legitimate means, so bloody good luck to them.

There is not a single tax payer in the UK who, if offered a completely legitimate way to pay £50 tax rather than £100, wouldn't grasp it with both hands (if they say they wouldn't they are either liars or there's something wrong with them) so I really don't see the difference.

As is usual when we're talking about people who have so much more money than most, this boils down to jealousy.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41886607

[bhg481]

You are absolutely right Deskdiary. I have said before on this site that anyone who doesn't use any legal means to reduce their tax bill is an idiot. Anybody who has an ISA has no right to criticise there people. It's down to the government to design tax rules which close these loopholes.

[mikey4444]

Rubbish. What was revealed yesterday was tax avoidance, on a truly grand scale. Just look at what some of the cast of Mrs Browns Boys have been getting up to.

The HMRC should get up off their asses and start closing down all these loop holes in our tax laws. I and everybody else here on AB have to be pay our fair share of taxes, and so should everybody else.

[Jackdaw33]

Tax avoidance is perfectly legal, tax evasion is not.

[EDDIE51]

Those who are avoiding paying income tax having their wages paid into a company outside the UK which then gives it back as a loan that will never be repaid, will still expect to get NHS treatment which they have not paid for.
Possibly the NHS should start asking for proof that you have paid your legitimately required income tax before giving free treatment?

[Prudie]

^ exactly, tax avoidance, even on a truly grand scale, is 100% legal and if we could afford accountants we'd all do it. Moan at the law but don't use it as a reason to bash those you don't like - and yes are jealous of.

[mikey4444]

Jack....trouble is, with many of these schemes, you would be pressed to get a cigarette paper in between legal and not legal.

[Sqad]

I agree totally with Desktop.
Off shore accounts are perfectly legal as long as one declares the interest made and there is nothing to suggest that this was not the case here.
Play by the rules and if they seem unfair to some....then legislate to change them in a democratic way.

[Kromovaracun]

Well, yes, they haven't broken the law precisely because so many of these people - namely Ashcroft - have used their wealth to influence government policy via party donations (and therefore render their activities legal).

[EDDIE51]

^^ As said some of what has been revealed (particularly the offshore wages scam) looks to me like tax evasion rather than tax avoidance.
If you are not prepared to put your fair share into the UK's economy , then don't expect to get benefits out if things go wrong.

[Togo]

Just look at the "source" of the latest revelations and who was used as a headline grabber. The "newspaper" is the mouthpiece, German branch, for the EU. More destabilisation.

[Kromovaracun]

(So I think the "it's legal" defense is a little bit shady in this particular instance).

[Sqad]

Eddie....nobody cares what it looks like to you.
The Tax authorities deem it legal......for ALL.

[Kromovaracun]

It's the same paper that broke the Panama papers, Togo.

[Old_Geezer]

That's the issue. No one suggests it's illegal, it's about morality. A deliberately created tax saving opportunity is a completely legitimate way to save tax. Spotting a loophole that was never intended, no matter how simple or convoluted, and abusing it in order to not contribute one's fair share, and leave the rest of society to pick up your slack, is alegal yet illegitimate way to save tax.

It is for governments to close loopholes where found, but it doesn't mean it's morally right to dump on everyone else using them.

As usual someone claims that inequality is about jealousy rather than admit it's about doing the right thing. That never convinces anyone save those who want to believe it.

[Old_Geezer]

... a legal...

[Togo]

Haha, now we have the, "it is their fault the NHS is struggling" wailers. Do you think any of the people being used as whipping boys(and girls), have perhaps private health arrangements? Bet none of them join a queue behind people who have never contributed a penny. Still, it is a vent for the hand wringers.

[EDDIE51]

^ Did anyone notice the bit where the Isle of Man government chief finance officer actually admitted he had changed the law just to make it easier for the ultra rich to avoid tax ? He had actually asked a firm of solicitors for suggestions as to how best to change the law to suit their clients needs!

[Togo]

//It's the same paper that broke the Panama papers, Togo. //

I know........... Who else could you have thought I meant? As I said. Mouthpiece of the EU. German Branch.

[EDDIE51]

Sqad, I don't expect anyone to care what it looks like to me. But if it looks dodgy to me , it may also look dodgy to a tax inspector.

[HansUrbancka]

If folk know that what they are doing is Not illegal why do so many of them go to such complicated 'set-ups' to hide away their money in overseas tax havens.

Hans.