I pay the tax I have to - Carr

9:56am Wednesday 20th June 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Jimmy Carr reportedly uses a Jersey-based company to minimise his tax liabilities Jimmy Carr reportedly uses a Jersey-based company to minimise his tax liabilities

Comedian Jimmy Carr has broken his silence over claims that he dodged tax, insisting: "I pay what I have to and not a penny more."

The funnyman is said to have used an aggressive - but legal - tax-avoidance scheme which enables members to pay income tax rates as low as 1%.

Carr, who has famously lampooned fat cat bankers, reportedly protects some £3.3 million a year by channelling cash through Jersey-based company K2 which then returns the money in the form of a loan. This is not subject to income tax.

He spoke out amid claims that members of Take That - Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen and their manager Jonathan Wild - invested at least £26 million in another scheme run by Icebreaker Management Services.

Carr was confronted over his own financial arrangements during a show in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Challenged by a member of the audience who told him "You don't pay tax", he replied: "I pay what I have to and not a penny more", The Times reported.

It came after he appeared to make light of the furore surrounding his payments to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

He asked: "Got through the papers? I haven't really been through the papers today. The Murdochs are after me..."

Carr is said to be one of more than 1,000 beneficiaries who shelter some £168 million from the taxman each year using K2.

A Revenue and Customs spokesman said it had successfully challenged an avoidance scheme run by Icebreaker 1 LLP, winning on the main arguments in the tribunals. HMRC said the K2 scheme was already under investigation.

Comments(13)

newscritic says...
10:08am Wed 20 Jun 12

Freeloader.

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newscritic says...
10:09am Wed 20 Jun 12

And they talk about benefits cheats - not a patch on the rich and famous.

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I 2 Could B says...
10:20am Wed 20 Jun 12

newscritic wrote:
And they talk about benefits cheats - not a patch on the rich and famous.
Benefits cheats are breaking the law and are criminals.

Tax avoidance is perfectly legal and involves no criminality of any kind.

Anyone who pays more tax than they legally have to is incredibly stupid.

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Willy47 says...
10:21am Wed 20 Jun 12

It's all legal so what is the problem? What a pointless article.

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Wirral_Man says...
10:25am Wed 20 Jun 12

Not against the law but there it does stink when someone reduces their tax burden like this when they really don't need to.

I must hurt to pay 50% tax but £3million a year after tax is still a lot of money.

I wonder if Mr Carr makes use of the National Health, roads, bin collections etc and is happy that us middle-earners are paying to subsidise him?

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Wirral_Man says...
10:28am Wed 20 Jun 12

"It must hurt" not "I must hurt"!!!!!!

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LordSpiffSpaffingtonThe2nd says...
10:30am Wed 20 Jun 12

Well he's not really a freeloader, if he was having his rent paid for by the council and using nhs services then yes but id imagine he doesnt really benefit from other peoples taxes if hes making over 3 million a year

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newscritic says...
10:31am Wed 20 Jun 12

I 2 Could B wrote:
newscritic wrote:
And they talk about benefits cheats - not a patch on the rich and famous.
Benefits cheats are breaking the law and are criminals.

Tax avoidance is perfectly legal and involves no criminality of any kind.

Anyone who pays more tax than they legally have to is incredibly stupid.
Oh thats alright then. Lets leave it up to everyone else to pay for schools, hospitals, welfare and pensions while this lot freeload.

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newscritic says...
10:33am Wed 20 Jun 12

Willy47 wrote:
It's all legal so what is the problem? What a pointless article.
No it is not pointless because they shoul dbe outed and humiliated and made to pay the correct tax.

Remember Carr is on the 10 O'Clock Show accusing and humiliating others who do exactly what he is doing. Hypocrite.

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newscritic says...
10:34am Wed 20 Jun 12

LordSpiffSpaffington
The2nd wrote:
Well he's not really a freeloader, if he was having his rent paid for by the council and using nhs services then yes but id imagine he doesnt really benefit from other peoples taxes if hes making over 3 million a year
Ha, ha, ho, ho.

That isn't you Jimmy by any chance?

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Wirral_Man says...
10:38am Wed 20 Jun 12

I wonder if this sort of thing will be stopped by the new "GAAR" rules that are coming in - I do hope so!

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MJI says...
10:49am Wed 20 Jun 12

At least the other Take That member is investing his money in businesses, to enable other people to work. Long term investment.

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MJI says...
10:49am Wed 20 Jun 12

At least the other Take That member is investing his money in businesses, to enable other people to work. Long term investment.

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