HMRC Blocking the Honours List!

[krugerandsmith]

On 01/09/2018 at 07:10, TIGHTCHOKE said:

At last a little bit of sense, it has always amused me that David Beckham is apparently annoyed that he has not been knighted yet.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45377362

I'm sure there are many more celebrities that feel they should have been honoured.

Whilst perfectly legal but entirely immoral, I do wish the Government and HMRC would close the legal loopholes to encourage everyone to pair their fair share.

Knighthoods an infantile practice given to the less ( Some ) deserving.

[Vince Green]

1 hour ago, figgy said:

You left the rest out about the old poor lady giving her last few pennies and the rich man who gave pounds. I also heard it many times at Sunday school. Or was that drummed into all who attended(was coerced or forced to go)

Yes they always told that parable just before they came round with the collection for some reason...……...

[LeadWasp]

1 hour ago, 12gauge82 said:

But tax avoidance isn't the actions of a selfless individual who has gone above and beyond, which is what this thread is about, I think someone who avoids paying a fair share of tax is rightly blocked from receiving honours.

As most of us practice it in one form or another who are we to complain?  As the Biblical references are coming out there's a lot of stone throwing going on.

1 hour ago, Vince Green said:

I totally agree with you, why give actors and pop stars knighthoods for only doing what they get paid for? 

 

I think the level of tax avoidance HMRC are talking about goes a bit further than duty free drinks and ISAs. More like having their total earnings paid into offshore shell companies and paying not a penny in tax. Lewis Hamilton style. 

So being a bit of an avoider is OK, moral, right-on.....just don't be prolific. 

[Vince Green]

Just now, LeadWasp said:

So being a bit of an avoider is OK, moral, right-on.....just don't be prolific. 

Well, HMRC sanction some ways of avoiding tax, and these are well known,  but with internationalisation it is much easier to move money around the world. Even Uber drivers get their money paid into Luxemburg bank accounts that are specially opened for them these days. A lot of these loopholes will get closed when we leave the EU hopefully

 

[oowee]

2 minutes ago, Vince Green said:

Well, HMRC sanction some ways of avoiding tax, and these are well known,  but with internationalisation it is much easier to move money around the world. Even Uber drivers get their money paid into Luxemburg bank accounts that are specially opened for them these days. A lot of these loopholes will get closed when we leave the EU hopefully

 

 or many more will open. Borders are beautiful things. 

[JohnfromUK]

• Avoidance in the form of ISA, Duty Free, Pension Contributions reclaim etc. is provided deliberatly to all by the Chancellor to encourage saving/give a perk.  No problems and 100% legal.
• Avoidance in the form of taking salaries on offshore dividends through shell companies etc. is a loophole not closed by the chancellor.  Personally I think the loophole should be closed and whilst it may be legal at present, it is morally questionable in my view.
• Avoidance by schemes that HMRC are challenging is questionable legally - which is why they are being challenged - and equally questionable morally.  That is what Bec=kham & Co were involved with.  The Courts have decided in HMRC's favour - and so they were technically evading tax (though that may not have been the original intention).
• Evasion by whatever means is illegal, morally wrong, and the offenders should (and I hope they are) brought to justice and the taxes due recovered.

[JohnfromUK]

In the case of Beckham, it seems he is also trying to avoid other matters on a 'technicality'.  He has admitted speeding and being the driver, but because the letter was delivered late is attempting to avoid any penalty.  It may be legal, the court has yet to decide, but it is hardly the best conduct to get a recommendation for an honour.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6130567/David-Beckham-hires-celebrity-lawyer-Nick-Freeman-answer-motoring-charge.html

 

[12gauge82]

1 hour ago, LeadWasp said:

As most of us practice it in one form or another who are we to complain?  As the Biblical references are coming out there's a lot of stone throwing going on.

So being a bit of an avoider is OK, moral, right-on.....just don't be prolific. 

Most of us practice it, but then most of us aren't nominated for honours and are not already in a hugely privileged financial position, therefore I fully agree with HMRC blocking them. I think you miss the point, honours should be for people who are selfless or go above and beyond ect, they should not be for people who look after number one, whether that's legal or not is irrelevant.