To think its fine for Bono to put his money in offshore tax havens while...

[MelodyvonPeterswald]

he encourages the rest of us ordinary mortals to do more to alleviate poverty and debt. This man deserves to be canonised.

[HolyShmoly]

I think a lot of people are surprised that the Queen pays taxes in the first place...

[MargaretTwatyer]

Bono says he knows how to spend money better than governments to relieve poverty. So he gets to keep all his money. But the thick plebs like the rest of us just have to hand it over for him to give away.

He doesn't want it spending on undeserving causes like schools and hospitals in Europe either.

[ssd]

Personally I think we'd be better off if people stopped paying Cash in Hand to millions of tradesmen every week

FFS, yeah we'd save the millions there, not all those people on Appleby's leaked documents, channel 4 should be down at B&Q taking the details of all those tradesmen

[Creambun2]

Mrs Brown's Boys is shit.

[ssd]

I think a lot of people are surprised that the Queen pays taxes in the first place

big of her.....

[ChinkChink]

Watch TV in the UK today and you'd think that benefit frauds were a massive drain on society.

Even using DWP's and HMRC's own figures, benefit fraud is DWARFED by tax avoidance [legal] and tax evasion [illegal].

There is no need for austerity. There is a need for HM Government to employ sufficient staff in HMRC to investigate and enforce.

Thanks HM The Queen btw - coulda funded several hospitals there. Cheers.

[Gemini69]

I vote for Bono and Geldof to be sent to Narnia... and then Shred that bloody wardrobe

[ShoesHaveSouls]

I think it's fairly well established that Bono is a dick.

Sad that so many do it though. Seems very wrong that even Queenie is at it (yes, I know its not "her" but her advisor's, accountants etc).

It is galling though. My DH is in IT, and a while back a tax dodge hot the news where he could set up a company and be paid through that, rather than as PAYE. He didn't do it, and nor did any of his colleagues - because it's a tax dodge.

I remember reading about a Private Equity Manager who paid less than his cleaner. We're talking about people who earn ridiculous amounts of money here - not wanting to pay their taxes. I'm surprised it hasn't kicked off a revolution tbh.

[IamNotDarling]

The Queen hasn’t been up to anything - she has investments in an offshore fund that invests in the UK. She’s taxed as if she has made that investment directly herself once the profits from that investment are realised.

Billions of pension funds and other institutional investors are invested in investment funds - it’s not avoidance!

[ssd]

hear hear chink, bloody spot on

wonder if the tax avoiders get accused of having plasma tv's and a goat??

[Creambun2]

Could save a few quid by slashing the royal family massivley, but hey, i'm sure we all love to fund beatrice and eugiene to fly around the world doing fuck all.

[IamNotDarling]

*billions of pounds from pension funds

[BelleandBeast]

Presumably, all these people want to see their bins collected each week and their streets lit and unless they are going private, to go to the GP and have their children educated.

That is what is so shit. They consume public services but don't want to pay for them, so we all pay more.

[ssd]

the royal family are one massive tax dodge

[cafenoirbiscuit]

And don't even get me STARTED on the bollocks spoken on breakfast to this morning encouraging sympathy for poor ole queenie who Just DIdnt Know ...... .

[Haffiana]

Ooh, envious kicking the rich thread! What fun!

[ssd]

the queen is hardly getting a mention on all this, the media have probably been warned to downplay her investments, like it doesnt really matter...

[LineysRun]

I can guarantee you Haffiana that I am considerably richer than yow

[ssd]

Haffiana's Havinalaff

[IamNotDarling]

Seriously, the Queen isn’t avoidance tax - but you know. Don’t like the facts get in the way of a good winge!

[LineysRun]

Yes, Queenie with fingers in the BrightHouse till has been very underplayed. I wonder why??

[Creambun2]

haffiana you wait for the revolution comrade

[ssd]

Iamnotdarling, why dont you tell channel 4 to stop whinging about the queen?

or maybe they are just mixing her up with Lewis Hamilton?

[IamNotDarling]

Er, I don’t watch channel 4 but if they are reporting that they don’t don’t understand investment fund taxation.

[cathyclown]

Why is it that those who have lots of income want to minimise their exposure to tax when they can afford to pay into the system, while the rest of us are imprisoned under PAYE or payroll taxes with no choice in the matter.

Is it greed or one upmanship, or not wishing to contribute to society or what. Gordon Gekko syndrome maybe.