Things Noticeable this week

[billybunter]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/b...-1226401077487

[Mal Hombre]

Jimmy Carr has come over all contrite,He now realizes that His tax "arrangements" are iffy He said "I now realise I've made a terrible error of judgement." It's funny that it took public exposure to make Him realise this...Mind You David Cameron is suddenly refusing to comment on individual cases when it involves Tory supporter,Gary Barlow OBE....

[exfarmer]

Originally Posted by billybunter

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/b...-1226401077487

Who do we know in Australia who might be feeling hungry and looking for man size portions?

[palo5]

Originally Posted by exfarmer

Who do we know in Australia who might be feeling hungry and looking for man size portions?

This guy



But of course, he is no match for Comrade Estreeter, who has several of these

[TCO95]

It has been real hot and sticky here the last 2-3 days. We just started getting loud thunder and lightning but it hasn't started to rain. Is this the first sign of the apocalypse?

[windymiller]

Originally Posted by Mal Hombre

Jimmy Carr has come over all contrite,He now realizes that His tax "arrangements" are iffy He said "I now realise I've made a terrible error of judgement." It's funny that it took public exposure to make Him realise this...Mind You David Cameron is suddenly refusing to comment on individual cases when it involves Tory supporter,Gary Barlow OBE....

I like Jimmy Carr. There, I said it. I think he's a funny guy. But I have to say he's shown himself to be nothing more than a greedy, selfish, self serving hypocrite. I dont know how he had the gall to do all those sketches on the 10 o'clock show laying into all those other greedy tossers when he was doing exactly the same thing himself. Even worse in fact. For me, contrition isn't enough. He, and others like him should be made to pay back what they owe. As one of his fellow comics posted on twitter today, he's basically been stealing money from the hands of the poor.

Cant wait to see 8 out of 10 cats tomorrow night. Should be good. If he's got the balls to turn up that is.

[squigg58]

Originally Posted by windymiller

For me, contrition isn't enough. He, and others like him should be made to pay back what they owe.

The problem is that he doesn't actually "owe" anything as what he did wasn't illegal.

To a certain extent I think he's a convenient scapegoat because he's joked about it in the past, but there will be thousands ... probably even tens of thousands ... of people involved in "tax avoidance" schemes. Ken Livingstone is a classic example.

[windymiller]

Originally Posted by squigg58

The problem is that he doesn't actually "owe" anything as what he did wasn't illegal.

To a certain extent I think he's a convenient scapegoat because he's joked about it in the past, but there will be thousands ... probably even tens of thousands ... of people involved in "tax avoidance" schemes. Ken Livingstone is a classic example.

I'm not very knowledgeable on tax law so I suppose you may well be right as regards the legality of the scheme he was involved in. But speaking as one of the vast majority of us who just pays up, has a good moan about it but still pays, I dont see a damn bit of difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion. He was supposed to pay 50%, he paid 1%. The Government have to stop paying lip service on this matter and make the legal situation clear so that tax avoidance is considered as tax evasion. The situation we have now is one where low and middle income earners are bearing almost the entire tax burden while the wealthy are just taking the piss.

[TCO95]

Originally Posted by windymiller

I'm not very knowledgeable on tax law so I suppose you may well be right as regards the legality of the scheme he was involved in. But speaking as one of the vast majority of us who just pays up, has a good moan about it but still pays, I dont see a damn bit of difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion. He was supposed to pay 50%, he paid 1%. The Government have to stop paying lip service on this matter and make the legal situation clear so that tax avoidance is considered as tax evasion. The situation we have now is one where low and middle income earners are bearing almost the entire tax burden while the wealthy are just taking the piss.

I'm not an expert on tax systems either but I know enough to understand that tax avoidance should not be demonized. Tax avoidance can include many risky ventures without which a lot of products would never see the light of day. How many good ideas would go unrealized without someone willing to back the play with their own cash? Television was a huge gamble for the original investors, so was the car and drilling in the North Sea for oil.

[squigg58]

Originally Posted by windymiller

I'm not very knowledgeable on tax law so I suppose you may well be right as regards the legality of the scheme he was involved in.

HMRC are investigating to check if the K2 Plan complies with tax rules. If it doesn't, those involved will have to pay back the full amount, but the underpayment is likely to be classed as a "mistake".

Originally Posted by windymiller

I dont see a damn bit of difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion.

Unfortunately, it's not black & white. How, for example do you differentiate between a self-employed individual employing their spouse to help with the business (the tax being shared) and someone "needlessly" employing their spouse just to reduce their overall tax bill?

Originally Posted by windymiller

The Government have to stop paying lip service on this matter and make the legal situation clear so that tax avoidance is considered as tax evasion.

It's being looked at. Interesting article with a paragraphe entitled "what's being done?"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17665780

Originally Posted by windymiller

The situation we have now is one where low and middle income earners are bearing almost the entire tax burden while the wealthy are just taking the piss.

Not all of the wealthy are taking the piss, and I'd suggest that a fair few of the low and middle class are also taking the piss by getting as many tax-breaks and hand-outs at they can lay their grubby paws on!