Bonehead

Dont do the crime if you cant do the time..............Simples!

tony de wonderful

I don't want to see BA like Emirates but otoh there is an entitlement culture which needs destroying if BA are to survive. Some of these cabin crew need to understand they are not entitled to a new Audi TT every year and to retire at 50 with a final salary pension.

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Whilst peaceful protest is a legitimate use of the public highway, occupying private premises against the will of the owners isn't lawful, nor is it particularly constructive.

As someone who is in education and knows colleagues who were marching on Saturday (peacefully I might add) I tend to concur with the above view: it was a silly thing to do, especially for a teacher.

warrenm2

WRONG! He was breaking the law - thats totally different

Trout

iTrader: (1)

That may be true, or not true, I have no idea.

However tax avoidance is legal - it is using the same tax system that you and I use to optimise the amount of tax paid.

We all do it. No-one is going to pay more tax than they have to no matter how rich they are.

What you are saying is that in 'your' view they should pay more tax. If so, then through the same democratic process that created the tax laws, change them.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

And, BTW, you didn't answer the question. Would happily sit down as a bunch of protesters caused you to lose £80k of your potentially hard earned. I doubt it.

97TURBO

We should just make all protests illegal, with the ****ers paying the penalty of being shot if they still go through with it

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

I don't get to "optimise" my tax and neither does most of the rest of the country, if we all paid tax based on that basis then there wouldn't be any Public services, National Health, benefits or whatever, or at least they would be a lot worse than they are now, its human nature to do as little as possible to get as much as possible hence why tax isn't voluntary. There seems to be the benefits classes taking all the time and the very rich avoiding contributing which just puts the squeeze on the rest of those that get up in the morning and go to work.

Just because something is legal/borderline legal, doesn't mean it is morally correct, I don't think they should pay more tax, just pay it on the same basis as everybody else in the system, I paid almost two grand in tax and NI this month as my wife unfortunately is not domiciled in Monaco where I can forward
my wage to "avoid" paying any tax whatsoever, ok he is an easy example but I suspect it is rife, especially given the 25 billion that is supposedly legally "avoided" each year.

fatherpierre

The charge is Aggravated Trespass. I'd be surprised if any of those charged with it gets convicted as the Crown needs to prove intention.

Loco

iTrader: (1)

I am really enjoying this thread. its interesting - Ed Millibands speech the other day suggested that the number of people turning out to the protest showed what the "majority" wanted. firstly, not many people who have commented on this thread seem particularly in support of the protest, and secondly, they reckon there was around 400,000 people at the protest. not sure where Milliband learnt to count, but last time I looked, 400,000 is not a majority in the UK...

Trout

iTrader: (1)

You seem to imply that there is one tax system for UHNW and one for mere wage earners like you and I. Err, it's the same system.

Of course there is a cost benefit as the cost of not paying as much tax is high, so the entry costs are substantial wealth. But it is the same system.

And I am damn sure you would not pay a penny more in tax than you could as long as it was within the tax law. I know I don't and my tax burden has reduced by around 30% by structuring how I earn my money.

cster

You think they still have the mentality that they work for a big state owned company that cant go broke?
Maybe they should be paid off with generous pensions, that those down the line can pay?
They certainly seem to behave as if they are set aside from other workers in that industry.

Daryl

So you are engaged in tax avoidance. The vast majority of the population are unable to do this, which is why the tax system needs changing. I'm not sure why you think it's OK to avoid paying your fair share.

hodgy0_2

a total side stepping of the realities Trout

I am sure J4cko cannot reduce his tax bill by around 30% by re-structuring how he earns his money, nor can the vast majority of people on PAYE

you're post is contradictory

free country argument accepted btw

MJW

There's around twenty people in this thread who opposed the protest compared to around half a million who were at the protests.

boomer

So the "vast majority" haven't taken out an ISA then?

mb

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Not really talking about those who have accountants who organise things well and operate within the law as if the government want them to pay more tax then they need to change the rules and close the loopholes, maybe it is time as the PAYE majority can only take so much.

I agree that nobody wants to pay more tax than they need to but it annoys me when it is contrived so an individual pays no tax whatsoever, be they a billionaire or someone who works cash in hand, its kind of forgivable if its small amount to keep your head above water and feed your kids but if its just sheer greed then I hope they feel the full wrath of the revenue.

cster

Or bought a smaller car for that matter.

Leslie

Ask Pete Lewis Tony, he has a special affinity for teachers!

Les

r32

He was an ****, guilty by association.

Same as that Milliband prat.

SJ_Skyline

So nobody uses salary sacrifice pensions to lower their tax exposure?

Buggered if I'm paying more tax than I need to.

Loco

iTrader: (1)

yeah, that only leaves another 60 million or so out there who havent voiced there opinion (the minority, according to milliband... haha)

Trout

iTrader: (1)

My fair share is what I have to pay within tax law.

When you get your self-assessment do you send an extra cheque in for kindness?

No? Why not?

So why should I?

I can also assure you that my tax bill is still very substantial and on average I am sure I utilise less of the states resources than most as I pay my own way for many things.

But anyone who has bought an ISA, got a contributing pension, used a government saving scheme, has an endowment policy, etc, etc has participated in tax avoidance.

DCI Gene Hunt

Sounds like a tax dodger to me

Scooby Soon!

Tax avoidance is perfectly legal, tax evasion is a different matter...

I'm not well off by any means but I always minimise the amount I hand over in tax (legally), its common sense surely?

But then I never understand why some people pay list price for a TV/car/laptop when you can get it for half the price down the road, education? stupidity? lack of money sense?

scud8

iTrader: (1)

The Reagan experience in the US demonstrated that if marginal rates of tax are perceived as fair then high earners are happy to pay their share. I'm sure most people, given a choice between paying 62% tax on income or 18% tax on a capital gain would take the capital gain option. If it was 25% vs 18% I suspect most people (even the super-rich) would go for the easier 25% option.