The Express.

I don't know what the great problem is with tax avoidance, its been going on for as long as there have been taxes, its seen as good sport by many. I have little sympathy with rrich companies getting caught myself, some individuals have to actually maximise their funds so they will last. Brian

I musty admit I get fed up with all the Tax Avoidance publicity. Until such times as these aggressive schemes become re-defined as Tax Evasion and therefore illegal, the rich and big business will act to avoid paying more than they have to and the moral argument will rarely be enough to make them change their ways.

Me too - lets face it, anyone who has/had an ISA or a TESSA is/was seeking to avoid tax.

Furthermore using ISAs is still being encouraged by increasing the limits, widening the types of product allowed to be ISA wrapped and the extra flexibility of IFISAs

The guardian knows their target market as well.

It's the money grabbing views of the advertisers and proprietors of the freely distributed papers and websites, and talk radio, that sway the conscious of the morning asleep with their mostly right wing ideals, that need watching ....

Occasionally do they get get pulled up (good), and then Metro starts welcoming advertising from strange quarters like UNISON, and subtle changes in slant for that day - often having a dig at other media groups to look just great :-|

Anyone who has bought duty free as well..

Maybe, but when I was a computer programmer with my own ltd co working through an agency, it never occurred to me that I could send my money to Mauritious and then 'lend' it back to me free of tax, with no obligation to pay it back, and escape the notice of HMRC.

However, it would never escape the notice of my accountant, so how come Mrs Browns 'boys' get away with it ?.

Even in the Canary Islands :-)

you may not have done but there were several schemes marketed at people just like you and many took advantage of it

Most, if not all were unwound by HMRC and the people concerned got large tax bills to pay.

you just employ a different accountant

tim

There isn't one, for simple cases. Anyone who fills in a tax return, and claims some deduction or other (such as your personal allowance), is "avoiding" tax, in a perfectly legal way.

What's bad is what seems to be termed "aggressive avoidance" I suppose like these footballers' schemes where their legality is open to interpretation.

What's worse than that - and illegal - is evasion, such as failing to declare income. Y'know, cash in hand anyone? That's evading VAT, typically, or income tax. Then there's if I have an overseas pension and don't declare the income from it. Although how I'd get away with that is a mystery to me, as it would come through my bank account.

I don't think the moral argument applies. I assume they have a legal duty to their shareholders to minimise tax.

I think Brenda could be more open. Meanwhile the Labour party avoided paying tax on their £4M surplus in 2015 - unlike the Tories who paid £230k tax on theirs.

No Maddie or Di news then?

It was probably suggested /by/ their accountants

yes it's strange that only those that can afford very expensive accountant can afford to aviod tax. Backhanders to certain people spring to mind.

No. See above: TESSA, ISA, Duty Free, and I do not nor have ever had an accountant.

Other measures that can be put in place are ways to avoid Inheritance Tax. Again its not complicated and no accountant is needed.

Total c*ck.

It's clear that the people who design these schemes pay backhanders to the accountants that recommend them

were you suggesting something more sinister?

tim

Billionaires aren't going to bother with those; they don't save 'enough' tax.

I guess most people would still need advice, which could be expensive, relative to the amount of money they have.