Don't be ridiculous of course it's his fault he employed someone to try and break the law - he failed.

By what appears to be your logic if I break into your house and murder you it's your fault because you didn't fit good enough locks - think about it

Your right bren, he would have bought the horse anyway, he's just bought a bit of goodwill by calling it Steve Prescott.

but the winnings wouldn't have gone to the SP Foundation

I'm with PopTart on this one. What he did was not breaking the law.

Ask yourself this - if there was a LEGAL way for you to pay less tax would you take it? I certainly would.
Anyone who says no is quite frankly, in my opinion, a liar.

The government have now closed the loophole but to say he broke the law is in fact wrong.

I certainly would not, it's theft and it's theft from yourself and the vulnerable. To me it's one of the most disgusting act a person can carry out and I would personally Jail the scumbag Barlow.

Tax pays for everything, if you don't like how it's spent then that's fine vote in a party that will cut government expenditure. Some will cut to the point where children starve to death, the elderly get no care and rich folk drive past in their limos, if that's what you want.

By the way he broke the spirit of the law and you know it.

Please tell me why the scumbag Barlow needs that kind of money or in fact why anybody does - why did he feel the need to pay less than most ordinary people whilst having far far more, the man is an utter low life - unless your claiming he is so stupid he didn't know what he was doing.

Bit over dramatic I know but the point stands

Of course I know why we pay taxes, and as I'm all PAYE I have no way out, but pretty much everything else you say on that post I disagree with.

You can't judge someone differently because they have too much money. He earned it fair and square same as we did.
From that point on there are tax rules that apply in different ways.

If you have kids you are allowed to pay nursery fees without paying tax. Is that unfair compared to those without kids, or older kids who have to pay tax on thiose earnings?
Pension the same.
Higher rate of salary tax the same.

You are told the rules by HMCE and you should follow them. If you have an advantage over someone else you either do the something else yourself, live with it, or vote someone in to power who likes different rules.

Tax avoidance and tax management, one is legal one isnt and its a fine dividing line.
Most self employed people reduce their liabilities as best they can either themselves or through professional assistance.
As with everything else in life there is a shiz load of grey in between the black and white.
Either put everyone on PAYE and increase income tax etc or take everyone off and put cigs, beer, fuel etc up 20%.

I agree with this, dont blame the player blame the game etc.

There is a lot of wealth envy in this country which clouds peoples judgement on these issues. You should only pay as much tax as you are legally required to do. The legal bit needs sorting out and the government should create a simpler system eg a flat rate tax on everything but they wont because the rule setters are part of the people who benefit from a complicated system which can be worked around if you have the money/knowledge ie not the masses.

For proof check Vodafone and Starbucks out. Vodafone have cosy dinners with HMRC top boss to come up with a solution that fits and Starbucks picked a number out of the air and volunteered to pay that as tax instead of the previous big fat 0 they were paying both of which the government accept because it is legal.

My advice is we should learn to play the game as the rules are not changing.

Apologies to Yosamite as we have steered away from his original point.

I'm glad the funds from the horse goes back to the charity.

Yes and hopefully they won't get voted back in again at the next general election.

I pay money into an ISA, this is reduce the tax I have to pay on any investment income I earn. Is this against the spirit of the law? I think not.

The only people to blame for this situation are the people who write the tax laws. If they don't like what people are doing then change the law.

I have no problem with people playing to the rules. If people break the rules and break the law then come down on them heavy.

Don't punish peoples' success.

In the US they admire people who are successful and earn wealth through legitimate means. For some reason the mindset is the opposite in the UK. People are too keen to shoot down those who have made a success of their lives and question their methods. Is this just envy because the people who haven't had this access to wealth begrudge those who have?

I pay my taxes and have no problem in that. I believe everyone should pay tax. However if there is a legitimate tax scheme to reduce my tax bill I will consider it for the benefits.

Would you take a lower earning job for the exact same role and same conditions?

I find the arguments against people and organisations who use legitimate means to reduce their tax bill as ignorant and defunct.

No problem. I have enjoyed the banter

Far too many people in this country with a cap-doffing attitude to the wealthy and powerful; that's how the status quo has been maintained for so long and probably always will be - when a berk like Gary Barlow is canonised because he does charity work, I despair.