Lewis Hamilton: Tax Dodger?

This won't please the 'tax dodger' Hamilton haters out there.............

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41886607


Wonder how much more will come out of these in the F1 world. I wonder if anyone has yet typed 'Ecclestone' into the search box.............

 

Probably means bye bye knighthood though the queen herself is at it.

I can' help feel a sense of dejavu though as I'm sure all this came out a few years ago...

 

The people being "caught" are comparative amateurs, Ecclestone will have such complex arrangements there's no way he'll get caught whilst alive.

 

I'm no fan of Lewis, but I don't get this?

As far as I can see nothing he did is illegal, it's just that he used financial professionals to not pay a £3.3 million tax bill. It's just that, in this case, the journalist, just doesn't like the practice. I watched part 1 and the journalist in this case seemed like a bit of an idiot.

To be honest, I think almost all of us would do something similar if we could.

EDIT - to say the bit about the queen was just silly. She's head of state in these offshore centers. So they don't like the fact that she is investing in her own state? Seriously, it stinks of a witch hunt.

 

Couldn't agree more - it's up to the people in power to close the loopholes - not the people exploiting them!!

If you got told as a person who's self employed and not on PAYE you could earn more money pay less tax there isn't one person who would say no!!

Maybe people who are on PAYE should ask why they can't get these benefits and start questioning the PAYE system rather than shouting off at others.

 

I'd like to entertain the notion that if i was making 50 million i wouldn't be too fussed about the last 3, but it's not human nature i suppose and it's easier to say than do. It's certainly silly to hate Hamilton for it.

Still kicking up a fuss is the only way governments will ever close the loopholes, with the added benefit of giving people like Lewis a reason not to dodge.

 

hmm, I dunno in this case, looks like he's trying to pass off personal as business, it'll probably be too expensive to investigate, like Bernie.
Why would people in power close loop-holes put in their by previous people in power to protect what they have? what would they use then?

 

Has Benson not done a detailed masturbstion piece yet?

 

The BBC are paralysed currently. They can't have a go at tax dodgers whilst tapping away on MacBooks, just to much hypocrisy. The things we do to look cool!

 

This is the key argument. Its legal if it was only used for business but its clearly been used for non business trips with friends too.

(Ive created this as a separate thread seeing as its made it to mainstream news)

 

um, did this need to be a thread od it's own?

I only posted a link, pretty much tongue in cheek against those who hate him and point our that he doesn't pay much tax in the UK as he is resident elsewhere. I certainly don't want to be seen to be the author of a thread which gives the impression I using it as a means to vilify him.

please take it down and put it back in the spare odds and end thread.

 

I didnt think it was an odd end thread to be honest as its national news and worth a broader discussion here as we are on an F1 board.

Dont get me wrong im not hating on him and I dont believe he is personally at fault as the deal was carried out by his companies. And technically he is leasing his own plane to himself.

Its a nice plane though. would be a good Ferrari livery

 

Hang 'im.
tbh I don't like him, but I don't think I've ever criticized his tax status or leaving the UK, I'd do the same, no question. It's his whiney twat-ness I can't stand.
As for the last bit, I wouldn't worry too much, I doubt that you'll be kicked out of the fan club for this, as it's obvious you're not villifying him. Although, in saying that, a glance at the BBC HYS's shows that quite a lot of them are completely unhinged, so you might get kicked out, and if they have your details, I'd move and change your name.

 

Bwahahaha. You got shafted! Proper stitch-up there.

 

Maybe I missed something but I don't see the personal use as a problem.

They kept going on in the program that it doesn't comply with UK and EU VAT law, but in almost the same breath they said that the Isle of Man has it's own laws, and that the Isle of Man specialists in private aircraft registrations. Now he, Lewis (or more likely his people) declared that the jet will be used at least 15% for personal use, and this was cleared and approved by Isle of Man customs.

So...... What's wrong with that? His financial advisers look to me like they have done their job, and are safe guarding his earnings for his future.You could says that it's morally wrong, and that's personal opinion,but lets get real, If I was in that position to buy my own jet I would do the same in an instant. How many here would say, with their hand on their heart, that they would do any different.

 

If only the internet weren't real life. Oh wait, it isn't.

I'll still be allowed to live!!

 

Didn't he buy it at the time he was looking at a move away, so maybe there is more to the colour he chose................?

For my two pennies worth here, there is nothing wrong in law with what he/his advisors did. However, he could still be forced to repay the VAT under anti-avoidance rules, which essentially nullifies any series of transactions carried out solely for the purpose of avoiding payment of tax. That seems to be what this scheme was. Not illegal according to the law, but was done just to get VAT back and no other purpose.

I no this cos I am smartz.

 

You can't write off personal expenses as business ones, otherwise no one would pay any tax at all because every penny you spend would be either business or personal. From the report it seems he's bought a jet as a business expense, and then leased it to himself for personal use so he can claim £3.3m, that's pretty grey at best, especially as his reported personal use is more than double the agreed 15%.
I've not chastised or criticised him for it though, even though I think he's a dick, because I think it's every man's duty to try to avoid tax. It's what the yanks fought the war of independence over. Every billionaire takes the piss with it, pretending they've lost money that was never theirs in the first place to avoid tax. Apple moved to Jersey, everyone's at it, but blatant tax wangles have caught a few celebs out, and this looks like one, tbh.
But, as I said, it'll probably be too expensive to investigate as HMRC had some massive cuts in the tax investigation departments so they'll only investigate easy ones done by people with no real knowledge of tax law.

 

It's one of those stories that creeps up from time to time. Most drivers live in Monaco or Geneva for tax avoiding reasons.

It's one of those moral questions which will differ depending on where you draw the line.

 

Even luvvy-duvvy Jenson was resident offshore. But as he was such a smooth operator, no one used that as a reason to beat him with a stick over it. Coulthard, Mansell etc also were resident in the tax havens of Monaco, Isle of Man, Channel Islands etc for most of their careers.

I think only Damon was gentlemanly enough to live properly in the UK. But then, what else would expect from Damon. Nice guy.