Tax That - Take That members implicated in tax dodging scheme


Take That

Following on from the recent news of comedian Jimmy Carr's completely legal but ethically dubious tax dodging scheme, more UK celebrities are having their dirty laundry aired in public. This time three members of Take That have been outed by The Times as participating in a scheme designed to avoid tax payments.

Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald, as well as the band's manager Jonathan Wild, are said to be among the 1,000 wealthy UK residents who have invested somewhere in the region of £480 million in a 'tax shelter' scheme. Robbie Williams and Jason Orange look like they're the sensible ones in the band, as neither been implicated.

Icebreaker Management Services, the firm who oversee the practice, is being investigated by the UK government who are actively seeking to have the scheme closed down. Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs have set up a hearing to evaluate matters and this could lead to those involved having to pay millions in back taxes.

Bono has also come under heavy criticism for moving U2 accounts out of Ireland, therefore avoiding tax payments in his native country.

What are your thoughts? Should these people pay tax in their own country like the rest of us, or would you do the same if you were in their position? Sound off in the comments section below.

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Comments

  • View Profile for John BalfeJohn Balfe

    Robbie Williams and Jason Orange were the sensible ones in Take That, it would seem. Who knew?

    Posted 10:56 | Thu 21st Jun 2012

  • View Profile for JaidiJaidi

    Anyone who says they would turn down a legal way to pay less tax is a liar or a fool. You can't build a bridge over a river and then expect people to still swim across. It's the government's fault for letting these measures remain legal. And for MP's to start preaching about morality is simply laughable! All the people taking the moral high ground would do exactly the same, nobody outside the PAYE system pays a penny more than they have to. I know a lot of self employed and business people, and they use every means possible to reduce their tax liability. They'd be idiots not to. Regardless of any ' tax reduction' schemes used by members of Take That, the fact remains they contribute a great deal to the UK ecconomy. Any investments they have made would have been recommended to them by advisors, who is to say in what light they might have been set? Icebreaker looks, to all intents and purposes, like a good way to invest in musicicans who have difficulty breaking into the industry. I can fully see why this would appeal to the likes of Gary Barlow. It's not a simple matter and the knee-jerk reaction of press and public is short sighted and ill thought out. As for Robbie and Jason - Robbie lives in LA, and is probably no longer a UK tax payer. Jason has a brother who owns a financial consultancy - no wonder his affairs are so carefully protected. The use of the word 'sensible' in relation to their lack of involvement in this scheme is odd at the very least. There is no lack of 'sense' in legally reducing ones tax liability, quite the opposite.

    Posted 11:38 | Thu 21st Jun 2012

  • View Profile for ShankillDublinShankillDublin

    "Anyone who says they would turn down a legal way to pay less tax is a liar or a fool.". Warren Buffet says he wants to pay more tax and does not take advantage of these scams/schemes. So, tell us, is he a liar or a fool?

    Posted 13:06 | Thu 21st Jun 2012

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