£35bn is lost in uncollected tax every year

[Gromit]

While the austerity cuts plan to save £6billion a year, six times that amount is not collected in tax.

http://www.telegraph....-taxes-last-year.html

Explaination?

[Zeuhl]

Good!

[factor-fiction]

And is that just from Dale Farm?

[sandyRoe]

The filthy rich hire accountants to make sure they stay wealthy.

[factor-fiction]

At least the figure seems to be coming down- it was worse under Labour.
"The tax gap has reduced from 8.5pc of total liabilities in 2004/05 to 7.9pc in 2009/10 "
I will need to read up some time to find out what this money is and how it's being avoided but I'm not sure there much that can be done- it seems the problem has always been there and there will always be clever people who find ways around the system.

[jake-the-peg]

Worse under Labour?

"The tax gap has reduced from 8.5pc of total liabilities in 2004/05 to 7.9pc in 2009/10"

Funny that they should compare 2004/5 rather than say 2008/9 or 2007/8 or even 2005/6

Rather smacks to me of being selective with the data being used wouldn't you think?

[emmie]

an inefficient and complicated tax system, and in a mess with regards to tax, codes which has gone on for so long that i'm surprised anyone knows theirs. Tax dodgers from all backgrounds, not just the so called filthy rich. I received 6 letters over an 18 months period, each giving different tax codes, and when i called the tax office for an explanation, i was told to ignore them, as something like 25 million letters had gone out from the tax offices with wrong codes.

[AB Editor]

"an inefficient and complicated tax system..."

This is why I like flat tax. While not the end to all problems it stops anyone having sympathy for very rich people using complicated loopholes to avoid paying.

[B00]

← Has it, all mine i tell ya!

[emmie]

that money could build a lot of hospitals, schools in Britain.

[Gromit]

Factor30

It is worse than it first appears. The Government are cooking the books and independent calculations put the amount lost at about £120billion.

http://www.taxresearc...ts/TaxGapResponse.pdf

[Zeuhl]

Most of it would be wasted anyway.

At least that's £35bn the thieving wonkers didn't get their clammy paws on.

Not that I'm cynical or anything - avoidance not evasion at all times :-)

[emmie]

Gromit, im a bit confused, that page leads to what seems like a one man band, Richard Murphy, tax expert, is that right.

[anotheoldgit]

I wonder how much those who are suppose to enrich the wealth and diversity of Britain are evading taxes?

[emmie]

if you want to know about tax evasion ask any Greek, they are experts, that's why their country is a basketcase.

[jake-the-peg]

A lot of it is about attitudes

It used to be quite acceptable to drink and drive - that is no longer the case.

People making fraudulent benefit claims is generally not seen as acceptable and theft.


People evading tax, doing cash jobs etc. needs to undergo the same change in social acceptability.

[Zeuhl]

Jake

that will only happen when and if people believe those in power are spending the money in an appropriate manner.

If anything, it is going the other way; an increasing number of people believe the administration is poor value for money, deeply resent handing over their hard-earned money to them and are exploring more ways to avoid doing so.
.

[emmie]

Zeuhl, yet criticise other shall we say wealthier people for doing the same. No one likes paying tax, and people will avoid it if at all possible. We get whomped for so many taxes, stealth ones, that when you look at one's take home pay, and then add up the amount of tax overall, its astronomical.

[Zeuhl]

em

when i was young and idealistic I thought it was my duty to pay taxes - and i was fortunate enough to pay rather a lot.

Now, after 11 years of busting my proverbials building up my businesses and observing the systemic incompetence of the political classes I am happy for our accountants to pull any trick they can and applaud anyone who does the same including an old acquaintance who disappeared to Switzerland allegedly owing the Revenue millions - he left the idiots waiting in his Reception while he went down the fire escape!

Top marks to that man - he had already given plenty to UK charities of his choosing.

[rojash]

"if you want to know about tax evasion ask any Greek, they are experts"

That should read "ask any RICH Greek or Greek politician, priest or monk"