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The PalArse of Westminster

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Exposing the hypocrisy, greed and incompetence of our "respected" elected political "elite".

Thursday 3 May 2012

Cameron Plays With Fire



The Prime Minister has said that he is taking the matter of 2,000 "off-payroll" civil servants "very seriously", after it emerged senior civil servants could be minimising their tax by being paid through personal companies.

He is quoted by the Telegraph:
"It is never acceptable for Government employees to evade their responsibility in paying the correct amount in tax and National Insurance.

Let me reassure you that we are taking this matter very seriously, and as such have begun an urgent review of public sector appointees being allowed to receive payment via an agency or personal service company.
All very nice, if you are trying to appear to be on the side of the taxpayer, maybe.

However, he needs to remember that tax avoidance is perfectly legal and that by using the emotive word "evade" he is implying that some form of criminal action has taken place here.

Has he evidence that civil servants are evading taxes?

Wrt "paying the correct amount in tax", what exactly is the "correct" amount?

Cameron, a man who relies on accountants and trusts to manage his finances, is playing with fire here; he should be careful that he and his friends (such as Jeremy Hunt) don't get burned!

2 comments:

  1. What I want to know is by haveing a 'personal company' or whatever it is called this minimises your NI and Tax liability... I think I need a new accountant!

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  2. It might but unfortunately, this became so prevalent a few years ago that the Revenue introduced something colloquially known as IR35 to prevent someone moving from a straight employment to working for their OWN personal service company and benefitting.

    Dear Anonymous, if you need help on this, come talk to me!

    ReplyDelete