More civil disobedience in Oxford Street

scorza · 4 Dec 2010 at 16:25

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-closes-protests-Sir-Philip-Greens-taxes.html

and a more considered article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/04/uk-uncut-protest-topshop-vodafone

This vodafone thing isn't going away is it? And now Arcadia have been targeted and hopefully Cadbury's next. Have we finally woken up? I hope so.

Richard Murphy, director of Tax Research UK, said he thought that UK Uncut's actions were justified. "I do think that what they're doing is appropriate, I do think there's a problem. Large businesses are paying a smaller proportion of their income in tax than many individuals and small businesses in the UK and that's unacceptable."

Vonhelmet · 4 Dec 2010 at 16:30

Meh. Those businesses pay UK CT on their profits. If the owners then live abroad and draw their dividends there, then so be it. We're not going to do anything about it, because if we did we'd drive businesses and rich individuals away because our tax regime is already uncompetitive.

Von Smallhausen · 4 Dec 2010 at 16:32

I saw the Socialist Worker banners then lost interest tbh.

Vonhelmet · 4 Dec 2010 at 16:34

Von Smallhausen said:
I saw the Socialist Worker banners then lost interest tbh.

I saw mention of Richard Murphy of Tax Research UK and rolled my eyes, but that's a bit more niche

Von Smallhausen · 4 Dec 2010 at 16:35

You've got me there vh.

scorza · 4 Dec 2010 at 16:36

vonhelmet said:
Meh. Those businesses pay UK CT on their profits. If the owners then live abroad and draw their dividends there, then so be it. We're not going to do anything about it, because if we did we'd drive businesses and rich individuals away because our tax regime is already uncompetitive.

Fine, if you live abroad and don't pay UK tax then do so. Just don't come back and start telling us where cuts to public services should happen in the UK if you washed your hands of the UK a long time ago.

Vonhelmet · 4 Dec 2010 at 16:39

scorza said:
Fine, if you live abroad and don't pay UK tax then do so. Just don't come back and start telling us where cuts to public services should happen in the UK if you washed your hands of the UK a long time ago.

You can live here and not pay tax here...

canofworms.jpg

Slam62 · 4 Dec 2010 at 16:40

canofworms.jpg

jpg fail

Von Smallhausen · 4 Dec 2010 at 16:41

I wonder how many people that scream injustice against leagal tax avoidance would do exactly the same if they were Philip Green and others ?

scorza · 4 Dec 2010 at 16:42

vonhelmet said:
You can live here and not pay tax here...

canofworms.jpg

I know, most of them are pulling the Conservative party strings at the moment.

dowie · 4 Dec 2010 at 16:43

vonhelmet said:
Meh. Those businesses pay UK CT on their profits. If the owners then live abroad and draw their dividends there, then so be it. We're not going to do anything about it, because if we did we'd drive businesses and rich individuals away because our tax regime is already uncompetitive.

That argument is more valid for tech firms etc.. which really can just move very easily. Topshop, BHS etc.. are UK highstreet retailer with UK distribution networks, prime retail space etc.. they're not going anywhere fast and the owner in question already resides overseas. If someone else wants to own them and not ship off 1 billion+ in dividends to Monaco to dodge tax then I don't see a problem for the UK economy. Philip Green has made a name for himself but he's not the only one who can run high street stores successfully.

Also Vodaphone's tax dodge that was dubious at best, high ranking former HMRC civil servant gets top job and then his buddies at HMRC decide to drop an investigation and write off large chunk of potential tax revenue.

Vonhelmet · 4 Dec 2010 at 16:47

dowie said:
That argument is more valid for tech firms etc.. which really can just move very easily. Topshop, BHS etc.. are UK highstreet retailer with UK distribution networks, prime retail space etc.. they're not going anywhere fast and the owner in question already resides overseas. If someone else wants to own them and not ship off 1 billion+ in dividends to Monaco to dodge tax then I don't see a problem for the UK economy. Philip Green has made a name for himself but he's not the only one who can run high street stores successfully.

They can move their headquarters overseas... We lost loads of companies to Ireland when they dropped their CT rate to 12.5%.

dowie said:
Also Vodaphone's tax dodge that was dubious at best, high ranking former HMRC civil servant gets top job and then his buddies at HMRC decide to drop an investigation and write off large chunk of potential tax revenue.

Most confess I'm not up on exactly what they've been up to...

sigma · 4 Dec 2010 at 16:56

I think driving away businesses would be the best thing that could happen to our economy.

Vonhelmet · 4 Dec 2010 at 16:56

sigma said:
I think driving away businesses would be the best thing that could happen to our economy.

Erm wut.

Westyfield2 · 4 Dec 2010 at 17:18

sigma said:
I think driving away businesses would be the best thing that could happen to our economy.

Said the labour party spokesman.

Tefal · 4 Dec 2010 at 17:24

Von Smallhausen said:
I wonder how many people that scream injustice against leagal tax avoidance would do exactly the same if they were Philip Green and others ?

all tax complaints can be summed up as this.

"anyone who earns more than me should pay more, I should pay less"

Cosimo · 4 Dec 2010 at 17:25

sigma said:
I think driving away businesses would be the best thing that could happen to our economy.

Why not have the Socialist Worker Party running the country then at least we know that bankruptcy would be on its way.

Cosimo · 4 Dec 2010 at 17:26

Westyfield2 said:
Said the labour party spokesman.

Even they wouldn't say that.

sigma · 4 Dec 2010 at 17:34

vonhelmet said:
Erm wut.

Must have missed the

off the end, sorry.

simulatorman said:
Why not have the Socialist Worker Party running the country then at least we know that bankruptcy would be on its way.

Communism is the only way forward, I mean China seem to be doing pretty well!

simulatorman said:
Even they wouldn't say that.

No, they'd forget what they were about to say and just offer to pay everyone who is listening for damages for wasting time!

Von Smallhausen · 4 Dec 2010 at 17:36

Tefal said:
all tax complaints can be summed up as this.

"anyone who earns more than me should pay more, I should pay less"

I am not of that mindset though. I have never been a one who yells that the rich should pay more given that they shoulder a huge chunk of income tax revenue to start with let alone business taxes.

If I were a businessman and in a position to do so then I would take advantage of a syatem where I could pay less tax legally.