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Tax Havens

(835 Posts)
whitewave Tue 05-Apr-16 08:38:06

We can't possibly let this slip by!

Tory on Radio 4 this morning arguing that we can't tackle the "treasure islands" that we have sovereignty over as it will lose people jobs!
I was astounded. So it is fine for the Steel workers to face penury but not those who help the wealthy to hide their money.

DC implicated - won't be long before GO is mentioned.

Nonnie Tue 05-Apr-16 16:35:30

I doubt if any of them actually know where their money is. When I worked for a huge company KPMG came in twice a year to deal with the tax of all the directors. I suspect most wealthy people do the same, whether they are political or not.

I am not on any side but I do think it is wrong to blame anyone for what someone in their family did. My family has its fair share of black sheep and I don't feel at all responsible for their actions.

whitewave Tue 05-Apr-16 16:43:11

I absolutely do so not agree nonnie when you say individuals do not know where their money is, and if they don't this is no defence in law.

However Cameron cannot be held to account for the actions of his father, just as Milliband should not have been held responsible for his father's beliefs, but the Tory press certainly tried hard to do so.

durhamjen Tue 05-Apr-16 16:47:29

www.facebook.com/pestonitv/posts/1598791460445593

Robert Peston on asking the question.

Iceland's PM has resigned.

durhamjen Tue 05-Apr-16 16:52:38

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2016/04/05/does-david-cameron-have-to-talk-about-his-father/

All four big accountancy firms have offices in Panama or the BVI. Why?

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2016/04/04/who-is-in-panama-and-the-bvi/

There must be more accountants and businesses there than there are residents to work there. Can't kid me that people do not know.
Rich people get worried about being fleeced. They know where their money is. Jimmy Carr knew. He was naive in believing it was legal.
Greedy people get caught out.

I am just waiting for the government to cut the number of staff working in HMRC again.

whitewave Tue 05-Apr-16 16:58:28

The big accountancy firms put all their brightest staff in the tax avoidance dept. dreaming up New and complicated schemes. They then sell these at vast amounts of money to interested parties. They, however never take on the liability if it all goes pear shaped. So it is win win all the way to the bank. I think these schemes ought to be run past HMRC in detail before they are allowed to function.

Anniebach Tue 05-Apr-16 17:17:32

Dave's wife and children do not have overseas shares , perhaps thry have been sold at great speed

whitewave Tue 05-Apr-16 17:23:03

I am sure that what is being said is true, but don't forget the company isn't based on shares as is traditional but on a financial instrument which will not be attached to individuals. I assume held safely in an overseas bank
They won't be traded on the stock market presumably.
If this is still the case presumably the beneficiaries of this company will not be named as shareholders. It also isn't a trust as far as I am aware.

whitewave Tue 05-Apr-16 17:24:50

All the company needs is a name plate on a building, ridiculously there can be loads of companies in the same building.

durhamjen Tue 05-Apr-16 17:35:26

Two non-execs at HMRC at least have links to the big four, one at KPMG and another at PWC.

Penstemmon Tue 05-Apr-16 17:37:15

www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/05/how-to-explain-offshore-banking-and-when-it-is-naughty-to-a-5-year-old

I quite enjoyed this as light relief from feeling so annoyed..not that I did not know such places and practices existed! But the instant denial and arrogance of the politicos is really infuriating.

durhamjen Tue 05-Apr-16 17:44:02

www.theguardian.com/news/2016/apr/05/panama-papers-world-leaders-tycoons-secret-property-empires

You beat me to that one, Penstemmon.

I think this is the one that will annoy Cameron more.

durhamjen Tue 05-Apr-16 17:55:49

Cameron's hoping that we will just stick with the piggy bank bit, rather than think about dictators and arms deals.

durhamjen Tue 05-Apr-16 18:00:04

indy100.independent.co.uk/article/just-a-reminder-hmrc-actually-rents-its-hq-from-a-company-registered-in-a-tax-haven--bJ2PgGt9eZ

durhamjen Tue 05-Apr-16 18:05:18

"No government has done more to crack down on tax evasion."

But it shouldn't have needed to.

durhamjen Tue 05-Apr-16 18:09:32

There's a petition on 38 degrees to ask the government to close tax havens.
You can also contact your MP through it.

Anniebach Tue 05-Apr-16 19:35:24

Cammeron cannot be held responsible for his imoral, tax cheating father, but I thought now he knows the thousands he inherited in 2010 - I assume he had no idea of his fathers antics ! - then the honourable thing to do would be to give the money to the needy , we must remember how against these dirty dealings he is !

durhamjen Tue 05-Apr-16 20:26:24

And more. How much do you think his Bullingdon garb cost?
His Eton fees? They all came out of his father's corrupt money.

There are still people saying it wasn't illegal, but I think even Cameron can see that that doesn't wash any more except among those who stick up for him, which is not the majority of the population.

This is going to run for a long time.

durhamjen Tue 05-Apr-16 20:28:55

How much of the money that we pay for the NHS, PFI and schools and hospitals goes through tax havens? What about the academy chains?

I am sure the investigative journalists will find out.

Anniebach Tue 05-Apr-16 20:29:41

The referendum will over shadow it Jen, they will find I way to worm out of this anyway . But what lies he is telling, shame on him

durhamjen Tue 05-Apr-16 20:44:51

I'd like to know how he got a first in PPE and never talked to his dad about economics and finance. Somehow I do not believe he knew nothing about it.
After all, it was Thatcher who allowed it by changing the law on capital, and Cameron is a Thatcherite. His dad did it straight after Thatcher changed the law.

durhamjen Tue 05-Apr-16 20:48:19

There are complaints about the referendum overshadowing the elections in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Annie.
Do you find that in Wales?

durhamjen Tue 05-Apr-16 20:50:56

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2016/04/05/we-need-capital-controls-to-tackle-tax-haven-abuse/

Cameron just needs to undo what Thatcher did, and all will be forgiven.

Anniebach Tue 05-Apr-16 21:01:44

Yes Jen, but we are use to it, Westminster the Beeb are in England,

whitewave Tue 05-Apr-16 21:09:06

There is an argument that Cameron senior's company did indeed evade tax, by stating that its activities took place outside of the UK when in fact there is a suggestion that this was not the case. HMRC need to be onto this.

Anniebach Tue 05-Apr-16 22:13:40

I have little trust in HMRC