I watched the BBC News at Ten O’clock last night and came away with the distinct impression that David Cameron must be a little bewildered or at least “out of sorts”. He surely can’t have been thinking straight when he got on his soapbox to preach about tax avoidance. He singled out Jimmy Carr for illustrative purposes and for that he probably needs his head examined. Not today though; the BMA would be right to consider his ailment non-urgent.
It is a fact of life that wealthy people will pay for and then, sensibly it must be said, act upon tax planning advice given to them by their tax accountants/advisors. Jimmy Carr, apparently, pays his money into an offshore account in Jersey to then loan himself his money back again. Here’s the best bit, in doing so he reduces his tax burden and it’s completely legal. It’s not illegal and I can’t even see a single justification for the label of immoral either – it’s just plain sensible.
A chap interviewed last night, whose name I am sorry to state that I can’t remember, presented an excellent viewpoint that paying more tax than necessary (according to the law), was just like making a charitable donation to the exchequer or, in effect, giving your money away. And why would you do that?
Cameron has offered some kind of moral guide to tax planning, pensions okay:offshore accounts not! What value is there in that? The thing is that the law needs to be crystal clear and then imposed – to moralise is hopelessly inadequate.
Court case outcomes are not determined on moral grounds, they are determined by the law – and Tony Nicklinson knows that, much to his frustration. Morally he should be able to be assisted to end his life – on a point of law though, it’s illegal.
Jimmy Carr, whilst no-doubt miffed about the media intrusion into his private affairs must be delighted with the material gifted to him for his comic purposes. He has all the ammunition he needs to get people laughing at Cameron’s expense for years to come – whereas the media interest in his legitimate tax management will die down in days. And, this is comical too, in performing his new material he could earn even more money that he could, if he chose, place in his offshore account. Brilliant!
The fact is though that Jimmy Carr has decided to conduct his affairs differently, he has actually issued an apology and that is to his credit. In his situation (and I’d love to be wealthy enough to be in it), I’d have been tempted to stick my fingers up at the politicians and suggest that they consult with my lawyers about defamation of character. I am no legal authority but surely Jimmy Carr has grounds for this.
In my jaded opinion, most of our political folk are as far away from altruistic as you could imagine, the MPs expenses scandal was proof that those who represent us are willing to act in a completely unethical, and occasionally illegal way to suit themselves. With that knowledge, how dare the most senior representative of our government have the gall to challenge citizens that are behaving within the established laws of the land.
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It is a fact of life that wealthy people will pay for and then, sensibly it must be said, act upon tax planning advice given to them by their tax accountants/advisors. Jimmy Carr, apparently, pays his money into an offshore account in Jersey to then loan himself his money back again. Here’s the best bit, in doing so he reduces his tax burden and it’s completely legal. It’s not illegal and I can’t even see a single justification for the label of immoral either – it’s just plain sensible.
A chap interviewed last night, whose name I am sorry to state that I can’t remember, presented an excellent viewpoint that paying more tax than necessary (according to the law), was just like making a charitable donation to the exchequer or, in effect, giving your money away. And why would you do that?
Cameron has offered some kind of moral guide to tax planning, pensions okay:offshore accounts not! What value is there in that? The thing is that the law needs to be crystal clear and then imposed – to moralise is hopelessly inadequate.
Court case outcomes are not determined on moral grounds, they are determined by the law – and Tony Nicklinson knows that, much to his frustration. Morally he should be able to be assisted to end his life – on a point of law though, it’s illegal.
Jimmy Carr, whilst no-doubt miffed about the media intrusion into his private affairs must be delighted with the material gifted to him for his comic purposes. He has all the ammunition he needs to get people laughing at Cameron’s expense for years to come – whereas the media interest in his legitimate tax management will die down in days. And, this is comical too, in performing his new material he could earn even more money that he could, if he chose, place in his offshore account. Brilliant!
The fact is though that Jimmy Carr has decided to conduct his affairs differently, he has actually issued an apology and that is to his credit. In his situation (and I’d love to be wealthy enough to be in it), I’d have been tempted to stick my fingers up at the politicians and suggest that they consult with my lawyers about defamation of character. I am no legal authority but surely Jimmy Carr has grounds for this.
In my jaded opinion, most of our political folk are as far away from altruistic as you could imagine, the MPs expenses scandal was proof that those who represent us are willing to act in a completely unethical, and occasionally illegal way to suit themselves. With that knowledge, how dare the most senior representative of our government have the gall to challenge citizens that are behaving within the established laws of the land.
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