Another tale of greed, Alan Sugar this time

I admire him.
I'm glad he's paid his bill.

To be a wealthy entrepreneur in this country is considered ‘greedy’, no matter how much of a self starter you are. In others it’s considered being successful and a just reward for risk taking and hard work. Says it all about modern day Britain really! No wonder our economic performance is so dire!

I applaud any legitimate self made millionaire 👏👏

He made a mistake, he has paid his tax bill.

Jens!
I’m guessing you know him. Otherwise how could you be so unkind/unpleasant about him. He’s a very wealthy man who has made it from the very bottom to very top. How can that not be admirable. Not what I could have done, nor many of us either however the country needs people like this.

People keep saying that the UK tax laws need simplifying. What to any of you suggest?

I will start off by saying I admire the man, and I would call him Lord Sugar, to not do so is disrespectful, just like not calling Sir Keir Starmer, Sir is disrespectful.

As far as the money is concerned, firstly, if he was not aware of the HoL rules, then he did nothing wrong except obey UK tax rules that need seriously simplifying. Secondly, if you had a chance to pick up some money on the side, wouldn't you do it.

And lastly, his own fee for the apprentice goes to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital

Have you ever met him? Do you actually know anything about him? I don’t think so, or you wouldn’t be saying such disgraceful things about him. He was mistaken about his tax status and has paid the bill in full. He is not guilty of tax evasion, and is no ‘blood sucker’. Do you have any idea of the amount of tax he’s paid over the years, the sums he’s given to charity, the number of jobs he’s created? Obviously you haven’t got a clue.

What makes you feel ‘vindicated’ Lord alone knows.
.

Jens

I feel vindicated, Alan Sugar is a downright nasty piece of work. I absolutely will not watch any program where he's on, makes me want to vomit, sue the little turd, put him in jail for tax evasion. Take his assets, sell them off, strip him of everything. What a blood ducker.

I take it that you don’t like him😀😀😀

I feel vindicated, Alan Sugar is a downright nasty piece of work. I absolutely will not watch any program where he's on, makes me want to vomit, sue the little turd, put him in jail for tax evasion. Take his assets, sell them off, strip him of everything. What a blood ducker.

Now that I would like to see.

Perhaps he'll give sailing lessons to disadvantaged young people ⛵

I meant to add, like his yacht that I believe was bought with offshore cash.

Callistemon21

Perhaps he sees how subsequent governments waste money and wanted the millions to go directly to worthy causes instead.

😀😀

Perhaps he sees how subsequent governments waste money and wanted the millions to go directly to worthy causes instead.

GrannyGravy13

If someone isn’t living in the U.K. enough days to qualify for paying U.K. personal tax why should they?

Peers apparently have different rules and he has now paid up.

I assume that his businesses pay all taxes due to the appropriate Government’s according to where they are registered.

Sugar has been in the House of Lords since 2009. 14 years. And in all that time he didn't know that, as a member of the legislature, he was automatically regarded as UK resident for tax purposes? This supposedly astute businessman failed to pick up on this very straightforward rule?

He has, apparently dutifully paid his tax as a UK resident all that time. Has even called others out for trying to evade their UK tax.

But when the dividend payout is huge and the tax bill correspondingly large he suddenly doesn't want to be UK resident any more. I can't think why...

Perhaps the late Mrs. Merton would have asked the question. "Tell me, Lord Sugar, what was it about a tax bill for £186 million that made you decide that you didn't want to be a UK resident any more?"

www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2023-09-09/revealed-lord-alan-sugar-attempted-to-dodge-186m-tax-bill

I rather like him ....

vulgar and grasping

Yes HPQ you’ve got it in one!

I can’t say I particularly like Alan Sugar but fair dos the man has pulled himself up by his bootstraps and seems a fairly astute business man but has slipped up here. I wonder if his accountant has been told “You’re fired!”

Is there a tiny bit of jealousy/resentment here that he has so much money? At least he’s up front I suppose, not like David Cameron with his overseas investments and then we have Mrs Sunak. Is there something about someone, anyone, having so much money that we intrinsically dislike? Like a previous poster my mind boggles as to what on earth I would do with so much money. I certainly wouldn’t need it.

If someone isn’t living in the U.K. enough days to qualify for paying U.K. personal tax why should they?

Peers apparently have different rules and he has now paid up.

I assume that his businesses pay all taxes due to the appropriate Government’s according to where they are registered.

It may well be all for the camera MerylStreep but for me it sends out all the wrong messages about how to achieve success.

GrannyGravy13

The U.K. needs more Alan Sugars self made millionaire, employing 1,000’s and helping many budding entrepreneurs to start up their businesses.

This is more an oversight by his accountant than a deliberate attempt not to pay a portion of his tax bill.

Sugar saying that he wouldn't have accepted the peerage if he had known that, as a peer, he wouldn't be able to non resident status for tax purposes doesn't sound like an accountant's 'oversight'. It sounds like hypocrisy from someone who has previously made virtuous statements about paying his UK taxes.

It is clear that the thought of having to pay this large bill completely over rode his desire for a squeaky clean public image.

Whichever way you cut it it looks like greed.

What GG said.

The U.K. needs more Alan Sugars self made millionaire, employing 1,000’s and helping many budding entrepreneurs to start up their businesses.

This is more an oversight by his accountant than a deliberate attempt not to pay a portion of his tax bill.

sodapop

Alan Sugar is definitely not a fool but greedy & grasping yes. Evidenced by his show The Apprentice, I have never seen such groups of selfish, uncaring and greedy young people as appear in that programme.

Oh dear. Another one who believes everything they see on tv.
It’s all for the camera.
Through my daughter I met a contestant on the The Apprentice. She didn’t win but she went on to set up the Tropic skin care company. She is genuinely lovely.
Alan Sugar supported her business.
I can assure you that Alan Sugar is nothing like his tv persona.

FROM RAGS TO RICHES: WHAT MADE ALAN SUGAR SO SUCCESSFUL?
Humble beginnings
Born in 1947 in London’s East End, Alan’s early beginnings were a world away from the wealth and fortune he knows today. Growing up in a council flat, making ends meet was a struggle for the Sugar family.

After spells earning money at a greengrocer’s and within the civil service, Alan’s business streak emerged when he bought a van with his savings. He sold electricals from the back of it.

Birth of Amstrad
At just 21, Alan set up his own business, naming it Amstrad. He sold hi-fi turntable covers, car radios, aerials and other electrical items. However, it was the launch of Amstrad’s personal computer in 1984 that really put Alan’s company on the map – it boasted a net worth of £1.2 billion by 1986. Plus, thanks to Amstrad, TV viewers could affordably purchase Sky set-top boxes.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Amstrad, however. The 1987 stock market crash and stiff competition from rivals such as Sega and Nintendo made life difficult for the brand. However, it eventually sold to BSkyB in 2007 for £125 million.