To think it sets a really bad example for the country when the PMs family have tax dodged millions

[Chloefairydust]

Just that really…

Im really surprised Sunak actually made it to be prime minister considering the recent stories that have been in the news regarding his family avoiding millions of ££ in tax . I actually thought Boris would have been more likely to have been PM. (Not that he’s any better🤔)

Did they do anything illegal?

They probably have some sort of legal loophole … but that doesn’t make it right

There is no suggestion that they have done other than comply with the relevant tax regulations.

But if you feel strongly that people should pay more tax than they are legally required to, HMRC offers the facility to do so. You could take advantage of that.

Honestly, your OP sounds like you have no idea what you are talking about. Can you go into more detail about what you have a problem with? Rather than 'recent stories'.

It’s not a loophole. It’s a tax status that the UK government allows people to have. His wife will have declared her status to HMRC. HMRC have approved that and accept her tax returns on that basis. You may not like it but it’s 100% legal.

I think this is out of date, there had been questions about his wife using non dom status for her business wealth, which is perfectly legal, but when it all blew up over the summer they opted to end the arrangement and just pay the tax here even though it costs them millions more to do so. It was covered on the Rest is Politics podcast at some point.

What taxes in what countries do you think they have avoided?

Oh give it a rest

It's great to hear that a fine citizen like yourself overpays tax. Good for you. 🌟

I always just pay what I am supposed to.

As far as I'm aware she operated wholly within the tax rules (and is now paying more than she is required to).

This is a non issue. She is not British and she is non domicile. I am sure she has declared all the tax she needs to declare.

I quite honestly don't care. They haven't done anything illegal and they probably have a team of accounts, financial and legal specialists looking after their money. As long as he does a good job of running the country I am not bothered about his personal wealth.

Aren't you the poster who was complaining about 'too much politics talk' on Mumsnet a couple of weeks ago?

They are rich and employ accountants to stay that way!!

Yep nothing illegal has happened but not exactly virtuous or moral either. I mean a man who held a Green Card as they planned to leave making financial polices for the country yadda yadda.

This is going to be the new Megan, isn't it?

We see you.

Oh give it a rest fgs

Why don't you overpay your tax, the option is there if you want to? Ffs.

Legal or not isn't the point - OP was talking about tax avoidance not evasion.

The distaste is because a, it's a controversial kind of tax status and has been for years, and b, her husband was directly in charge of regulating the provisions for it. Which means a massive conflict of interest in public office - something they should have anticipated by foregoing its advantages, rather than be pushed into it after first hiding the particulars from the public and then getting found out.

They've just done smart business that's all not criminals. No different to what everyone else does. What I worry about is how can people so wealthy genuinely understand what families on low income have to go through.

Hey @Chloefairydust , could you just talk me through the whole nondom thing and why she should have paid tax here in the UK? I'm a bit misty on the details. Thanks.

I'm 100% sure if you weren't British and also weren't domiciled in the UK so didn't need to pay UK tax on certain income you would have done exactly the same thing.

OK, I just want to state, I in no way like or condone Rishi Sunak.

Op, I think you may have misunderstood the issue. Very simply there are 3 ways in which you can pay less tax:

1. UK Tax Laws schemes and reliefs.
Legal.
There are loads of things you can do to reduce the amount of tax you pay. These are purposefully introduced to help lower tax.
The most obvious one I can think off is ISA savings accounts. Usually if you are saving money and making lots of interest, you pay tax on the interst you make.
If you open an ISA, you won't pay tax on the interest. Very legal, in fact encouraged.

2. Tax Avoidance
Semi legal ish.

Very simply, you find a loophole in the Tax Law and take advantage of it to reduce your tax.
Think Amazon, Starbucks etc.
Some Tax Avoidance schemes have been allowed, then it's up to the Governent to tighten the loopholes.
Is it illegal? Most of the time, No
Is it morally wrong? Yes

3. Tax Evasion
Highly illegal. In fact fraud. You are purposely hiding your money from HMRC, so you dont pay tax.

Rushi, well his wife, falls under No. 1 - perfectly legal Tax Scheme and morally fine to do.

You may not like it which is fine, but they have done nothing wrong.

My explanation above is a very brief overview , there is much more to it than this, but I don't think anyone will appreciate pages and pages of Tax Law. 😁

I don’t have an issue with it. Also, whilst Rishi is independently wealthy from his business career his own wealth is nothing which is even a minute fraction of that of his wife’s family. The tax arrangements relate to her family income, not his. He was brought up in an ordinary middle class family and whilst he went to Winchester his upbringing and background is as far from aristocratic as can be.

Well, they haven't "tax dodged". They have managed their money efficiently, within the law - which us what we should all do. So they are setting a good example, in fact.

Did they do anything immoral?