Forget Sunak's seatbelt, what about Zahawi's taxes?

[noblegiraffe]

Our former Chancellor, it would seem, is only able to say that he has paid his taxes in full, because he realised the gig was up, he'd been caught and went to HMRC to sort it out.

And the reason it hasn't been a bigger story is that the litigious Mr Zahawi hired a firm of lawyers to send off threatening letters to anyone investigating, stating, untruthfully, that these letters had to remain confidential.

Calculations suggest that if he had to pay £3.7 million in back-taxes, this would imply £27 million in undeclared income, representing about a 1/4 of his net worth. This, therefore, is not small change, or a tiny oversight.

The timeline of events is worth reading, here www.taxpolicy.org.uk/2023/01/19/zahawi_story/

Not sure what the fine is for not wearing a seatbelt, but Zahawi had to pay a 30% penalty on his unpaid taxes, meaning that his claims that his taxes were filed and paid correctly is untrue.

He was Chancellor of the Exchequer while this was going on.

No wonder he was so supportive of Boris, going as far as to say teachers should remain impartial when discussing lawbreaking politicians

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4480290-Teachers-should-remain-impartial-on-matters-of-lawbreaking-by-politicians-says-Zahawi

Of course whether his tax-dodging is illegal depends on whether it counts as tax avoidance or tax evasion. No idea on that front, given how easily the rich seem to get away with this stuff.

@Clavinova rest assured I am not the least upset. As soon as a poster starts what about it is clear they have lost the argument. This place would really be much more fun if you and the other Toryfans engaged in discussion.

Anyway, do be kind to me and next time you use that whatabout please include me in the list of people that Durham Police haven't fined.

Roussette
I think you need to read the timeline of what Zahawi was doing with regard to threatening letters

On the other hand, I did spot Dan Neidle still tweeting about the National Crime Agency in October.

As soon as a poster starts what about it is clear they have lost the argument

I thought my HMRC post was quite helpful actually.

We got a parking ticket in Barnard Castle and DH was very annoyed. So he has been fined by Durham Constabulary. Nice they occasionally step up.

I also caught Covid in Barnard Castle.

But that was not what the threatening letters were about. He was trying to completely silence him.

Roussette

I see from your link that Neidle is not only a Labour Party member but also an elected member of Labour’s national constitutional committee (NCC) (Zahawi’s lawyers accuse Neidel of concealing this fact).

So much for you posting this -

Roussette · 22/01/2023 08:42
Dan Neidle has just been on BBC Breakfast News.
Oh my goodness, he was brilliant. Nina Warhurst introduced him as 'a Labour leaning, tax blah bah blah'.
He straightaway put her right. And said he is not Labour leaning, he is a-political...

As he said Clavinova he has also investigated Labour MP's which rather defeats your long post and searching for what I said.

A tax evader is a tax evader whoever investigates.

@Clavinova Could I ask you a simple question.

Do you condemn tax evasion?

As he said Clavinova he has also investigated Labour MP's

Any names?

Do you think he shouldn't have been sacked? Your posts seem to indicate that.

You better contact the PM and the Ethics Adviser and tell them!

Do you think he shouldn't have been sacked?

No - I think he should have been sacked.

What, in the name of all that is holy, are you arguing about then. He got what is coming to him for tax evasion. And lying about it.

Well done Neidle and others who exposed his dodgy dealings.

A tax evader is a tax evader whoever investigates

I've just been reading Dan Neidle's blog page here;

It’s wrong to say Nadhim Zahawi evaded tax. It’s also wrong to say he didn’t. Here’s why. ...

www.taxpolicy.org.uk/2023/01/20/zahawi_evasion/

In the blog, Neidle asks this (20 Jan 2023);

Journalists should put this question to Zahawi: “did HMRC apply their investigation of fraud procedure, COP9?” If they did, then HMRC thought tax evasion was absolutely a possibility, but didn’t proceed with a prosecution.

Zahawi's solicitors answer this question in correspondence with Neidle dated 22 Jan 2023;

"Given the seriousness of your intended allegation, our client will however confirm that he was not subject to an investigation under Code of Practice 9."

Somewhat amusingly, Neidle has a message for those posters who think Zahawi belongs in prison - click on the link under the heading;

But Nadhim Zahawi committed tax evasion! Jail him!
Please think about the company you are keeping.

www.taxpolicy.org.uk/2023/01/20/zahawi_evasion/

Now I'm going to catch up on Happy Valley.

I haven't said he needs jailing. I don't think he should be in politics, he lies and evades tax (whilst being Chancellor)

Enjoy HV.

Thanks for linking to Neidle's blog again, Clavinova.

I can confirm it's well worth reading the whole of that blogpost, not just Clavinova's cut and pastes.