Reply to: This whole tax avoidance business....

[BR14]

This forum is an odd place to bring up the issue of tax avoidance.

Oh, - REALLY?

[fatboyslim]

This forum is an odd place to bring up the issue of tax avoidance.

[SueEllen]

Things just get worse for Lewis : -

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...-nephew-online

Dinosaur.....

Cockwomble you mean.

Lewis clearly spent too much time go-cart and other racing when he was young.

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

Things just get worse for Lewis : -

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...-nephew-online

Dinosaur.....

Sadly a lot of people still think this way. Shame to hear this nonsense coming from somebody of his (and my) age.

That said, we know how this will play out:

1. People call him out for his dickish behaviour.
2. Twitter goes into full on outrage mode.
3. The press pick it up.
4. The backlash backlash begins with people defending his behaviour and saying that he’s right.
5. He deletes the post and apologises.
6. Some people accept the apology for what it is and move on with their lives.
7. Others continue to criticise him and say his apology isn’t good enough and call for a public flogging.
8. Those that supported him criticise him for even apologising and giving into “bullying” by the “liberals”.
9. He disappears from social media until it all blows over.
10. Bored columnists start writing long form think pieces completely overanalysing the entire saga.
11. Somebody else starts a new outrage storm and it’s all forgotten about.

I’m guessing we are probably up to step 5 or 6 by now.

How it ought to play out:

1. Act like a dick
2. Get called out for dickish behaviour.
3. Apologises sincerely, show some empathy.
4. World accepts apology and moves on.

[BrilloPad]

From what I've read, the VAT refund is highly suspect. Being VAT registered is not the sole requirement for recovering input VAT on a purchase. The purchase needs to be related to making taxable supplies. In other words, if there isn't a valid business reason for the purchase the VAT is not reclaimable. If there is a mix of personal and business purposes then the VAT reclaim should be restricted. If Hamilton always intended to make use of the jet in a private capacity a third of the time, then only 2/3 of the VAT should have been recovered.

Do you think he's been paying any tax on the BIK for his company giving him free use of the jet?

Things just get worse for Lewis : -

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...-nephew-online

Dinosaur.....

[shaunbhoy]

Is your lack of imagination how you ended up in the Catering Corps?

I would explain, but you lack the imagination to comprehend.

[BrilloPad]

Thats an interesting point. So what you are saying then is that people are not really interested in their own comfort etc, but only in comparison to others, but that most if not all people tend to compare to the people they have less than, rather than the millions (billions probably) they have more than?

Like most things in life there is a balance. There are arguments on both sides.

I believe that really caused the 1930s recession was inequality. And inequality is worse now than in 1929 and getting worse.

Money needs to circulate.

When the bubble pops its going to be VERY bad.

However I expect the can will be kicked down the road for another generation or so.

I have heard stories moaning about tax dodging since the 1970s and nothing ever seems to change.....

[northernladyuk]

Thats an interesting point. So what you are saying then is that people are not really interested in their own comfort etc, but only in comparison to others, but that most if not all people tend to compare to the people they have less than, rather than the millions (billions probably) they have more than?

That is a false dichotomy.

[simondolan]

Because people feel more contented where there is less disparity.

Would most people rather be a king in the middle ages or a factory worker now? The logical answer is factory worker now. The heart would say a king.

Thats an interesting point. So what you are saying then is that people are not really interested in their own comfort etc, but only in comparison to others, but that most if not all people tend to compare to the people they have less than, rather than the millions (billions probably) they have more than?

[jamesbrown]

pure jealousy?

What first attracted you to millionaire, Simon Dolan?

[northernladyuk]

Yes, we should strive to be much more like all those successful democracies that shy away from such a model.

Is your lack of imagination how you ended up in the Catering Corps?

[shaunbhoy]

Because power vests in wealth, which undermines democracy.

Yes, we should strive to be much more like all those successful democracies that shy away from such a model.

[northernladyuk]

Why is that a laudable goal in and of itself? Surely the better way to look at it is to consider the quality of life for everyone (in the western world) compared to say 50 years ago? Even the poorest now have untold riches compared to then. The fact that there is a bigger difference between the top 1% and the bottom 1% is entirely irrelevant, other than on the basis of pure jealousy?

Because power vests in wealth, which undermines democracy. Most media outlets, for example, are controlled by very rich people.

[BrilloPad]

Why is that a laudable goal in and of itself? Surely the better way to look at it is to consider the quality of life for everyone (in the western world) compared to say 50 years ago? Even the poorest now have untold riches compared to then. The fact that there is a bigger difference between the top 1% and the bottom 1% is entirely irrelevant, other than on the basis of pure jealousy?

Because people feel more contented where there is less disparity.

Would most people rather be a king in the middle ages or a factory worker now? The logical answer is factory worker now. The heart would say a king.

[Big Blue Plymouth]

Why is that a laudable goal in and of itself? Surely the better way to look at it is to consider the quality of life for everyone (in the western world) compared to say 50 years ago? Even the poorest now have untold riches compared to then. The fact that there is a bigger difference between the top 1% and the bottom 1% is entirely irrelevant, other than on the basis of pure jealousy?

True up to a point yet I'm always left scratching my head as to why I pass scores of people sleeping in shop doorways when the I walk to the office every morning. You didn't see it on that scale even 20 years ago, let alone 50.