...to think David Cameron's tax affairs are no- one else's business?

[Nessalina]

I think all of this furore over the PM's finances is a bit bizarre. If the law allows people to reduce the amount of tax they may need to pay through lawful methods, why shouldn't he be able to do the same? Yes, he's a red-faced pillock with far too much money, but he's not actually broken any laws... Prepares to be flamed

[AnthonyBlanche]

I can give you facts jelly. I haven't done so far becuase you wouldn't understand. Perhaps it would help if I recommended some reading for you?

[MajesticWhine]

YANBU, I can't get myself worked up about this.
Of course people try to reduce their tax bill, whether it's ISAs or inheritance tax planning or pensions. It's not immoral, it's just common sense. Where it drifts into dodgy ground is people making sure all their income is paid to an offshore company whereby they pay no uk tax, when they live and work in the uk, like the K2 one that Jimmy Carr used in the past.
It's not black and white, but it then I think it does become aggressive tax avoidance because they are not paying an amount of tax that is even vaguely proportionate to their income, therefore immoral. David Cameron seems to have paid a proportionate amount of tax.

[candykane25]

anthony my new favourite word is snarky

[AppleSetsSail]

They should make everyone's tax returns public. Reducing your tax bill as much as you can is morally wrong in my opinion, that tax money is needed.

Yep. And also an accounting of how they're spending their after-tax income, in case there's too much of it and the could be paying more tax.

[AnthonyBlanche]

at Apple.

[jellyfrizz]

Anthony My first degree is in economics so I might just understand if you could explain it with short words. Please share your wisdom with all of us ignorant fools on this thread who have no idea about tax, investment, companies etc.

[GrumpyOldBag]

It's clear that what Cameron did tax wise was perfectly legal.

Some people have argued that reducing your tax liability through normal, legal methods is morally wrong.

Well, the money probably gets back into the economy anyway - if DC saves, say, £5k in income tax - that is £5k he has to spend on goods & services which he will pay 20% VAT on which goes straight into the exchequer.

Just saying. It's not that simple.

And his mother's gifts to him - perfectly fine, normal practice, this is done in my own family and many others wit far less money than the Camerons.

[Andrewofgg]

Apple Why stop there? Let's audit everyone's spending to make sure they are only buying things which give employment. I spent £30 on second-hand books last week which I could have spent on something new, how anti-social of me!

Or we could think again. Making tax returns public may sound fun when it's the PM or some celebrity nonentity - but do we want those nosy types in the house down the road knowing about our taxes?

[GrumpyOldBag]

Anthony Blanche, odd person to model yourself on:

[AppleSetsSail]

Or we could think again. Making tax returns public may sound fun when it's the PM or some celebrity nonentity - but do we want those nosy types in the house down the road knowing about our taxes?

Seems like some people are pretty whimsical about other people's privacy.

Natsku, would you mind scanning your tax returns and posting them on this thread, please? Just so we know you have the courage of your convictions.

[AnthonyBlanche]

What you on about oldbag. It's a user name, not a way of life. By the same token I could say that you sound like a real bundle of laughs.

[Handsup]

It maybe legal and something many of us would be partial to do however implementing cuts to the most vulnerable in society while preaching 'we're all in this together'...well, cunt springs to mind.

[AnthonyBlanche]

But what is it you think he should have done different hands? Is your objection merely that he and his family are wealthy compared to most?

[HildaFlorence]

As someone says on one of the Facebook threads about this , what the headline should read is "man makes a modest investment and pays all his tax" and really that's all there is to it .

[Handsup]

My objection? Lead by example if you decide education, NHS, youth & disabled services need cutting otherwise perhaps find another job where you don't look such a hypocrite.
Why are you so obsessed with jealousy rather than morals? Btw my family are pretty wealthy too but like your comment I think it's pretty irrelevant too.

[AnthonyBlanche]

Lead by example by doing what exactly hands?. As Hilda explained upthread, he had an investment inherited from his father on which he has paid all tax due.

Unless you can explain what it is you think he has done wrong, or what he should have done differently, or even where the hypocrisy is, it is hard to see what your objection is other than that he has more money than most.

[GrumpyOldBag]

Anthony my user name is a very apt description of my present frame of mind

I was a great Brideshead fan & loved your character in the TV series.

Some might think your name is oddly appropriate for this Cameron thread. In which I think we are in basic agreement (although I am not & never have been a Tory).

[Natsku]

Natsku, would you mind scanning your tax returns and posting them on this thread, please? Just so we know you have the courage of your convictions

I have no problem with people seeing my tax return. The country I live in now has public tax records so anyone can look at my tax return if they want to and anyone can look at the tax return of politicians. Transparency is a good thing, keeps people more honest than they might otherwise be.

[RandyMagnum]

Dunno about anyone else, but I don't pay taxes for moral reasons, I pay taxes because I have to. And I only pay the least ammount I legally have to, same as everyone else should. You wouldn't purposefully overpay in a shop or a restaraunt, so why would you purposefully overpay your taxes??

[candykane25]

Randy good for you.
Are you in charge of tax policy for the UK?
Are you in charge of austerity measures for the UK?
Are you claiming that reducing the UK deficit is necessary and the way to do it is to cut services and benefits to people with disabilities?

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

So what candy? He's acting withing the uk tax laws. His paying what is due tax wise, doesn't mean he doesn't want austerity measures for the UK economy. They aren't linked.

[howabout]

Through I am a bit stunned you are suggesting the UK tax system as run by DC and co and austerity measures are unrelated

The uproar about the budget was precisely because cuts to disability benefits etc were being seen to be being used to pay for cuts to CGT etc.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

?? howabout the Conservatives are pro cutting tax in general. The Conservatives are pro austerity measures via public spending cuts.

What am I missing?

[howabout]

So we are in fact agreed tax cutting and austerity are linked?

If I were a journalist I may well be tempted to recast the Cameron family legitimate tax planning to see how much they could have benefited from the changes since 2010.

[candykane25]

What you are missing is how the tax cuts and austerity measures are distributed through