Comic Jimmy Carr admits off-shore 'tax dodge'

[Paul in NZ]

The real question regarding this odious little affair is why does this horrible tosser earn so much freakin cash???

[unstuck]

Good on ya jimmy.

[lakedaemonian]

It's not Jimmy Carr's fault special interests have influenced government to create tax policy that benefits the wealthy, he simply took advantage of legals means to minimize his tax burden.

Ask yourself the following question:

Why is it Jimmy Carr in the headlines as a tax dodger(legal) when there are FAR, FAR bigger fish to fry?

Jimmy Carr is white bait, where's the media coverage on the whales?

[Oscar]

... but he's sorry

Yet another fuckin wanker... all of those who do such a thing are morally redundant human beings with absolutely no concern for their fellow man... and then these people try to justify their in-actions whilst people have lost their jobs and their homes because of cutbacks that could have been avoided had those who can best afford it have just paid their taxes. They're by far worse and do more damage than beneficiaries that fiddle the system!

He apologised for his participation in a LEGAL scheme.
He didn't try and justify his actions, and he's cost no one their job.
I think it's obvious who the wanker is here.

[Oscar]

The marginal tax rate in the UK (150k pounds +) is 50%.

How's that for an incentive to invest in LEGAL tax aviodance?

[Paul in NZ]

A lot of 'merkins believe that its your moral duty to pay as little tax as the system allows for.

Anyway - its just another example of how much better british comedy is than ours. At least you can get a few laughs out of tax avoidance but there is nothing funny about child molestation....

[MisterD]

Why is it Jimmy Carr in the headlines as a tax dodger(legal) when there are FAR, FAR bigger fish to fry?

Because he appeared on an (allegedly) amusing and satirical program in a sketch attacking tax avoiders in general and Barclays Bank in particular. It's his hypocrisy that made it news.

For the record, tax is legalised theft and there is nothing in the slightest immoral about seeking to minimise the amount you pay.

[MisterD]

A lot of 'merkins believe that its your moral duty to pay as little tax as the system allows for.

The first attempt to introduce a federal income tax in the US was struck down as unconstitutional...so the politicians changed the constitution (16th amendment if you want to google).

[mashman]

Like them them the cry about governments but do nothing to change it.
Gee that sound familiar.

There are plenty of people trying to change it, but they don't seem to get into office for some reason, hmmmmm.

He apologised for his participation in a LEGAL scheme.
He didn't try and justify his actions, and he's cost no one their job.
I think it's obvious who the wanker is here.

The marginal tax rate in the UK (150k pounds +) is 50%.

How's that for an incentive to invest in LEGAL tax aviodance?

Why did he apologise? For being caught? Or for realising that it puts undue financial pressure on the govt?
So those people in the public service who have lost their jobs because the govt doesn't take enough in tax are not in that predicament because people are minimising their tax contributions? Sounds like he's costing people their jobs alright.
Yes, you.

I agree that it is an incentive, but it's only an incentive if you decide that those who would receive the benefit of yer tax $ aren't worthy of it. Tells me plenty about their character, especially when they can clearly afford it.

[Oscar]

There are plenty of people trying to change it, but they don't seem to get into office for some reason, hmmmmm.



Why did he apologise? For being caught? Or for realising that it puts undue financial pressure on the govt?
So those people in the public service who have lost their jobs because the govt doesn't take enough in tax are not in that predicament because people are minimising their tax contributions? Sounds like he's costing people their jobs alright.
Yes, you.

I agree that it is an incentive, but it's only an incentive if you decide that those who would receive the benefit of yer tax $ aren't worthy of it. Tells me plenty about their character, especially when they can clearly afford it.

He apologised because it made him look like a hypocrite.
So explain how he's costing people jobs?
By paying the legal amount of tax?

[mashman]

He apologised because it made him look like a hypocrite.
So explain how he's costing people jobs?
By paying the legal amount of tax?

It makes them all look like hypocrites... especially when they start moaning about the ineffectiveness of govt, which plenty do.
For arguments sake let's say he "avoided" 1 million pounds of tax. At a decent salary of 20k that's 50 public servants who could have kept their jobs and potentially their homes. He didn't pay, so an extra 50 people were cut from public service.
Dress it up anyway you like, but it's people's livelihoods that bare the brunt of such actions... although I wouldn't expect smart people to understand that simple concept... after all, they pay what they believe is their fair share.

[Oscar]

It makes them all look like hypocrites... especially when they start moaning about the ineffectiveness of govt, which plenty do.
For arguments sake let's say he "avoided" 1 million pounds of tax. At a decent salary of 20k that's 50 public servants who could have kept their jobs and potentially their homes. He didn't pay, so an extra 50 people were cut from public service.
Dress it up anyway you like, but it's people's livelihoods that bare the brunt of such actions... although I wouldn't expect smart people to understand that simple concept... after all, they pay what they believe is their fair share.

Who are "them"?
Do you often worry about "them"?

As for people losing their jobs, do you seriously think that the Her Majesty's Govt. runs on the basis of sacking people based on that year's income tax take (notwithstanding the fact that have been borrowing for a while now to make up the shortfall)?

"All right you guys, Jimmy's got a new accountant so you're all fired..."

Any country that has a marginal income tax rate of 50% is going to allow for a bit of leakage.

[MisterD]

At a decent salary of 20k that's 50 public servants who could have kept their jobs and potentially their homes. He didn't pay, so an extra 50 people were cut from public service.

What a stupid, stupid argument. Every dollar appropriated by government, is one less dollar available for actual productive investment generating other jobs elsewhere in the economy.

[mashman]

Who are "them"?
Do you often worry about "them"?

As for people losing their jobs, do you seriously think that the Her Majesty's Govt. runs on the basis of sacking people based on that year's income tax take (notwithstanding the fact that have been borrowing for a while now to make up the shortfall)?

"All right you guys, Jimmy's got a new accountant so you're all fired..."

Any country that has a marginal income tax rate of 50% is going to allow for a bit of leakage.

You know, "them"... those who legally avoid paying their taxes.
More and more each day when I see the damage it does to entire country's.

Yes. Isn't that how any business runs? they wouldn't have as much of a shortfall if people didn't avoid their taxes.

aye, tis just Jimmy.

Then they're stupid!

What a stupid, stupid argument. Every dollar appropriated by government, is one less dollar available for actual productive investment generating other jobs elsewhere in the economy.

@ actual productive investment and generating jobs... So the investment and jobs that the govt generate aren't productive or an investment?

[Big Dave]

Yeah - Public utilities are renowned for their efficiency.