This is what the Tories are really like

lostinrates

Thinking about this more, its not SO different, legally avoiding tax (generally rather than in the specific case) to seeking the best bargains, using vouchers etc, and other generally MSE things.

shortchanged_2

Why the hell does 1 person want so much money anyway? Sickening really.

Just goes to show how greedy the human race can be. Personally I don't know how these people sleep at night knowing there is so much poverty all over the world while they stockpile massive amounts of money for themselves.

nicko33

He got the idea from another of MSE's hidden forums - the Tax Avoidance forum (invitation only)

Jennifer_Jane

I've certainly done plenty of tax avoidance in my time - ISA's; paying into AC's in my pension fund and so on. Just before I retired last year I was paying £60 a month tax on an income of almost £2000 a month. Plus there was a raft of things that our Company offered to help us that were available on pre-tax income: various vouchers, etc. Can't remember all the details, but child care vouchers/bicycles/laptops come to mind. And when I was running my own business, I certainly claimed for everything that I legally could, and at one stage was ensuring I didn't pay unnecessary tax because I was out of the Country for the required time.

It's just a matter of scale isn't it? So I think that you're mad if you don't take advantage of tax avoidance schemes. Why wouldn't you?

Radiantsoul

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

I've certainly done plenty of tax avoidance in my time - ISA's; paying into AC's in my pension fund and so on. Just before I retired last year I was paying £60 a month tax on an income of almost £2000 a month. Plus there was a raft of things that our Company offered to help us that were available on pre-tax income: various vouchers, etc. Can't remember all the details, but child care vouchers/bicycles/laptops come to mind. And when I was running my own business, I certainly claimed for everything that I legally could, and at one stage was ensuring I didn't pay unnecessary tax because I was out of the Country for the required time.

It's just a matter of scale isn't it? So I think that you're mad if you don't take advantage of tax avoidance schemes. Why wouldn't you?

To an extent I agree, but there was an agreement that he would pay UK tax when he took a peerage.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Get this bit



SUBJECT TO 20% TAX.................


I am not bothered about the rest of it....... What he did was legal & it is up to Government to make it illegal which the Tories will not do..

StevieJ

shortchanged wrote: »

Why the hell does 1 person want so much money anyway? Sickening really.

Just goes to show how greedy the human race can be. Personally I don't know how these people sleep at night knowing there is so much poverty all over the world while they stockpile massive amounts of money for themselves.

Faith in humankind should be rejuvenated a little by this.

America's ultra-rich are queuing to join in a grand gesture of generosity. Forty US billionaires have signed up to pledge at least half of their fortunes to charity under a philanthropic campaign kicked off by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/aug/04/us-billionaires-half-fortune-gates

lostinrates

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

It's just a matter of scale isn't it? So I think that you're mad if you don't take advantage of tax avoidance schemes. Why wouldn't you?

The ''why wouldn't you' is the bit that interests me. I'm certain we could avoid some (more?) but we haven't sought to. Lack of time? Lack of motivation? Fear of the costs of finding out? I think these probably all outweigh the morally safer ''its our bill for society''. Generally I think that avoidance is ''not good'' but I also personally feel the incentive to avoid responsibility to the nations bills is made morally easier while taxation is so hefty.

As for are the argument posed about how the rich sleeping in their beds at night, most of us are luckier than many, many millions of people...even to have beds. Budge over and make room for a little'un: we should all sleep uneasy on that score.

shortchanged_2

StevieJ wrote: »

Faith in humankind should be rejuvenated a little by this.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/aug/04/us-billionaires-half-fortune-gates

But they will still be keeping billions in private wealth though.

StevieJ

shortchanged wrote: »

But they will still be keeping billions in private wealth though.

They can't spend it so it must be reinvested it creating jobs.