TAXING THE RICH
Sir, Simon Pegg states that he and other well-paid people should pay more tax (Thunderer, Jan 23). Fine and dandy, but he should do it first. Whether in the US or the UK, it is possible to pay more than the legal minimum in tax. Both countries will send thank-you letters. When Pegg shows us his, perhaps we’ll listen to his calls. Until then, I’m not bothering.
Tim Worstall
Senior fellow, Adam Smith InstituteSir, Simon Pegg is to be congratulated on his Thunderer. He should start the ball rolling: there are forms from HM Revenue & Customs that facilitate voluntary contributions. He can then let everyone know how he gets on, so as to encourage the rest of the wealthy to follow suit.
Anthony Moffoot
Edinburgh
That’s not quite what I wrote but still. Elsewhere:
Matthew Lesh, head of research at the Adam Smith Institute, said: “We’ve all had enough of millionaires lecturing the rest of us about not paying enough tax.
“If these hypocrites really want to pay more, the Treasury will happily take their spare dosh.”
Quite so. And my original:
Sirs,
Simon Pegg (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/comment/inequality-will-only-be-tackled-if-the-rich-are-taxed-more-9tnxq7rbr ) states that he and other well paid people should pay more tax. Fine and dandy – you first Simon. I pointed out in these pages in 2006 ( https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/show-us-your-cheques-bhgb7r22vm0 ) that 5 people had paid more than their legal due to the Treasury in the previous year – and four of those were dead. Whether in the US (the “Gifts to the United States” account) or the UK (“The Accountant, HM Treasury”) it is possible to pay more than the legal minimum in tax. Both will send thank you letters – when Mr Pegg shows us his perhaps we’ll listen to his calls for people like him to pay higher taxes. Until then, well, you should but I’m not bothering as yet isn’t an attractive argument.
Yours etc
As you yourself have noted Tim, they launched this ‘pay extra tax if you want to’ scheme in Norway as well and raised less than it cost to administer the scheme.
“Norway’s Finance Minister Siv Jensen told press. “If anyone feels their tax level is too low, they now have the opportunity to pay more.”
It is probably pertinent that even Jonas Gahr Store, the wealthy leader of the left-of-centre Labor party, who was a leading critic of what he branded Norway’s unfairly low tax rates, has so far not opted to make any voluntary contributions under the government scheme.”
To pay voluntarily would either not be nearly enough in the eyes of lefty virtue signallers, or it would really hurt one’s pocket. One can’t win. What a silly idea.
I am 99 per cent certain Pegg has at least one tax wrapper which is slightly more personal and tailored than a bog-standard ISA or SIPP.
In this case, putting your money where your mouth is could hardly be easier.
#paymorewithme?
More dignified than pouring a bucket of cold water over your head.
He wants to be seen as virtuous, but virtue isn’t conditional. He’s just another self absorbed SJW.
Sir, Donald Trump states that I should not have nuclear weapons. Fine and dandy, but he should do it first. Whether in the U.S. or North Korea, it is possible to disarm. The UN will send a thank you letter. When Trump shows us his, perhaps we’ll listen to his calls. Until then, I’m not bothering.
Kim Jong-un
Supreme Leader and Chairman, North Korea
Dear Kim Wrong-un
Start feeding your own people or we’ll turn Pyongyang into a carpark.
Yours
The Donald.
Dear Kim Ping Pong
That car park idea might not be so bad. We can manage it for you.
Dear Kim wrong mong
You are cordially invited to take the sex and travel option – Gangnam style.
Your faithfully,
The Donald
Supreme deity, light of the aryans, emitter of the supreme trump.
Would anyone be surprised if they found that millionaires in show business arrange their tax affairs to (perfectly legally) minimize their tax liability? No, me neither.
Six No Trumps
I love giving money to the government. I park in the council pay and display rather than walk an extra quarter of a k, then go to the off-licence.
Just curious though – is giving money to the government and not taking money from the government equivalent actions.
You don’t have to collect your entitlements, subsidies etc, and when the DWP tell you one day that you’re entitled to a pension, free TV, bus pass, prescription, fuel payment you can turn these things down presumably.
@Bongo
In most cases you have to make some slight effort to apply for them.
Would anyone be surprised if they found that millionaires in show business arrange their tax affairs to (perfectly legally) minimize their tax liability? No, me neither.
Didn’t the World’s Foremost Tax Expert (snigger) once advise the luvvies on just that?
Anyway, rich people paying more tax voluntarily would set a good example and everyone else would follow. That’s what they say about us de-industrialising our economy back to peasant feudal times – the Chinese and Indians will follow our example. If it works for something as big as that, it will work for taxation, I’m sure.
Bout time gingers were uthenized at birth. Only then will the abomination that is the ginger gene be stamped out
@BraveFart
Gingers: are there any nice, successful ones?
I do find pale red-head girls attractive, same as pale dark-haired; but red-heads I have known (M&F) are flaky, untrustworthy and tempestuous
Simon Pegg is a cunt. There was a time when could have been a remarkable Media creator, but he sold out for the big bucks and became a cunt.