More tax advoidance by well known companies.

[Fly]

We've recently started to use BetFred's online betting website to play the Irish Lottery.
Topped up my account today and noticed this in the receipt email I received.

Merchant
Petfre (Gibraltar) Limited
accounts @ betfred.com

A quick Google search for contact Betfred details finds this
http //www.betfredcorporate.com/contact-us/

Head Office.
Benson Rd, Birchwood,
Warrington
+44 1925 288500

Just how many companies are using tax loopholes ?

[Old Cruser]

Don't start Pete off again Fly, it's one of his pet hates 

Answer to your question - more than we will ever know about, after this Non Dom thingy which was in the news a few days ago I reckon it's a can of worms just waiting to be opened.

[therealjr]

All of them. Which is why the govt changed the rules in the last budget. They now have to pay tax if they are accepting bets on any events in the British Isles.

[therealjr]

The question is are Amazon using the tax money to keep prices low (good for the consumer) or to pay high bonuses and dividends (bad)

[Pete]

No, that's not the question. Everyone should pay taxes.

[Old Cruser]

No, that's not the question. Everyone should pay taxes.

They should but what about the people who have money and put it in accounts abroad - many get away with this.

[therealjr]

People and businesses don't 'get away with it'. That would infer they are breaking the law. It's been happening ever since taxes were invented and it happens every day everywhere on one level or another. Tradesmen working in the black economy is tax avoidance. Buying packs of cigs from a man in the pub is tax avoidance. In fact both those things are illegal whereas what Amazon do isn't
People use tax systems to their benefit where they can. It's avoidance but it's not illegal.
Think on this. Suppose I earn £20,000 a year. Because I work for a big company I pay Paye. For ease of maths let's say I pay 20% tax.  So I pay £4k and take home £16k. Now out of that I pay £500 a year to play at my golf club. I pay £1000 a year to fuel my car and I pay out £5 a week or around £200 a year so that my son can play in youth football.
Now my friend runs his own business. He makes £20000 in profit, effectively his wages. But he puts his golf subs through the business because he entertains clients at the club. He puts the fuel for his car through the business and he sponsors the football team so they graciously don't charge his son a fee. So he declares £18300 and pays £3660 in tax. Same amounts same bills but he's kept more of his money. Perfectly legal. But fair?