Pandora Papers - Leaks

[dchabs]

What you all think about the pandora leaks. Obviously stuff we know has been happening for decades but still carries on.

''The secret deals and hidden assets of some of the world’s richest and most powerful people have been revealed in the biggest trove of leaked offshore data in history.

Branded the Pandora papers, the cache includes 11.9m files from companies hired by wealthy clients to create offshore structures and trusts in tax havens such as Panama, Dubai, Monaco, Switzerland and the Cayman Islands.

They expose the secret offshore affairs of 35 world leaders, including current and former presidents, prime ministers and heads of state. They also shine a light on the secret finances of more than 300 other public officials such as government ministers, judges, mayors and military generals in more than 90 countries.

The files include disclosures about major donors to the Conservative party, raising difficult questions for Boris Johnson as his party meets for its annual conference.''

External Link/Members Only

[sparkus]

TBH I'd be surprised if the rich and powerful didn't do this.

[Markus]

From what I’ve understood of what is written in the papers, none of it is actually illegal. The issue surrounding it is secrecy and of course how some government officials accumulated such enormous wealth. 

[finn5555]

Anyone who has that kind of wealth will always look to save a few quid. Its old news really been going on for years and will never end.

[WelshClipper]

Tony Blair just personifies the greed of the rich.

Like ‘I’m a multi millionaire but aren’t I clever avoiding paying £300,000 in stamp duty when all you other fuckers aren’t rich enough to rig the system’

100% first class prick 

[Blackpool Rock]

Tony Blair just personifies the greed of the rich.

Like ‘I’m a multi millionaire but aren’t I clever avoiding paying £300,000 in stamp duty when all you other fuckers aren’t rich enough to rig the system’

100% first class prick 

It's not an exclusive club though is it  As posted above all these super rich fuckers and leaders have been taking back hander and doing dodgy deals since forever it's just that things are a bit more transparent these days due to leaks and the amount of information that can be quickly and easily sent out worldwide to Millions of people at the push of a button.

Tax is only for us poor plebs to pay 

[finn5555]

Everyone on here would do the same if they could 😂
It’s no different than you paying cash to avoid VAT just on a much bigger scale 😃

[WelshClipper]

It's not an exclusive club though is it  As posted above all these super rich fuckers and leaders have been taking back hander and doing dodgy deals since forever it's just that things are a bit more transparent these days due to leaks and the amount of information that can be quickly and easily sent out worldwide to Millions of people at the push of a button.

Tax is only for us poor plebs to pay 

Agreed, it just always seems that any scandal, whether flats in London or banana plantations in Borneo, he seems to have a hand in it.

But whatever, I should not bring my personal dislikes into the discussion. Maybe that ‘eye of the needle’ concept will bite them all in the bum one day 

What does get me though is after this all blows over and a few high profiles are interrogated by Laura Kunesbourg, all will go back to normal and the rich of the world will continue to amass fortunes.

[Payyourwaymate]

External Link/Members Only

What are the Pandora Papers?

A massive trove of private financial records shared with The Washington Post exposes vast reaches of the secretive offshore system used to hide billions of dollars from tax authorities, creditors, criminal investigators and citizens around the world.

I forgot to post the source of the people who released the most recent papers.

External Link/Members Only

This will probs be in the news all week.

[WelshClipper]

Everyone on here would do the same if they could 😂
It’s no different than you paying cash to avoid VAT just on a much bigger scale 😃

Can’t agree with you there. The only time I use cash is for punting. Everything else by bank transfer or Google pay. As in a previous thread, I argued the demise of cash is coming.

But the Tony’s of this world will still be avoiding stamp duty. 

[finn5555]

Ok so let’s say you want some building work done and your quoted £10000 cash or pay by BACs £12000
What option would you choose 

[WelshClipper]

Ok so let’s say you want some building work done and your quoted £10000 cash or pay by BACs £12000
What option would you choose 

I would not pay anyone cash for any building work these days. Way too iffy as to what you’ll get built.

And I don’t think you can generalise and say everyone on here would choose the cash option.

[finn5555]

I would not pay anyone cash for any building work these days. Way too iffy as to what you’ll get built.

And I don’t think you can generalise and say everyone on here would choose the cash option.

I used building work as an example 

I bet the vast majority would avoid tax if possible much to your disgust I guess 

[WelshClipper]

I used building work as an example 

I bet the vast majority would avoid tax if possible much to your disgust I guess 

Having an opinion on here does not imply I criticise others. I am just saying what works for me

 

[finn5555]

I am just saying what works for me

Of course I get that

[bushman]

Ok so let’s say you want some building work done and your quoted £10000 cash or pay by BACs £12000
What option would you choose 

I am with you on this. Who would pay the full amount if you can pay less.
If you can buy flats and reduce your tax and fees burden via certain legal means why wouldn't you?
Some rich folk was born into it. Some worked for it. However the issue should be where the money came from in the first place.
Umbrage should be taken with politicians and charities claiming to be fighting the cause for the poor but then enriching themselves with massive benefits and bonuses and those that made money by criminal means in first place.

[mradventures]

the thing is, if the rich are shirking their taxes, then it falls to the rest of us, or we have reduced services. also as there alot of wealth transfer to the rich, then our effective tax base will keep shrinking.

[tynetunnel]

the thing is, if the rich are shirking their taxes, then it falls to the rest of us, or we have reduced services. also as there alot of wealth transfer to the rich, then our effective tax base will keep shrinking.

It’s us plebs in the middle that keep paying for it all. The rich and clever do everything in their power to negate/reduce their tax liabilities: whether that’s this latest revelation about Blair, or celebs channeling their income via an investment vehicle or External Link/Members Only while the lazy and feckless contribute little or nothing and claim every benefit they can, using any dodge to avoid actual employment

Not everyone obviously, but a good many

[lillythesavage]

Agreed, it just always seems that any scandal, whether flats in London or banana plantations in Borneo, he seems to have a hand in it.

But whatever, I should not bring my personal dislikes into the discussion. Maybe that ‘eye of the needle’ concept will bite them all in the bum one day 

What does get me though is after this all blows over and a few high profiles are interrogated by Laura Kunesbourg, all will go back to normal and the rich of the world will continue to amass fortunes.

Blair used his whole tenure to line his own pockets and those of his cronies, and made sure anyone following was hamstrung with an empty starting pot. The country has gone rapidly downhill under austerity and Blair was the reason for it.

[Proton]

What will happen to poor old UK, if the money laundering through London and it's offshore tax havens, becomes funnelled via somewhere else.    

[anyfucker]

Like the Panama Papers, not a single US Billionaire or Politician is exposed. That isn't because they are all pure as the driven snow. This is obviously a US Intelligence setup again, primarily still trying to nail Putin.

[RedKettle]

Ok so let’s say you want some building work done and your quoted £10000 cash or pay by BACs £12000
What option would you choose 

BACS

Have had that choice several times and never pick cash unless there is a believable non tax evasion reason.

[finn5555]

BACS

Have had that choice several times and never pick cash unless there is a believable non tax evasion reason.

Of course it’s avoiding tax or why bother 

[chrishornx]

It's not an exclusive club though is it  As posted above all these super rich fuckers and leaders have been taking back hander and doing dodgy deals since forever it's just that things are a bit more transparent these days due to leaks and the amount of information that can be quickly and easily sent out worldwide to Millions of people at the push of a button.

Tax is only for us poor plebs to pay 

and for years we 'plebs' have also done many things to avoid tax - we all do

[willie loman]

and for years we 'plebs' have also done many things to avoid tax - we all do

i imagine the urge to cheat has been with us since the garden of eden, and perhaps there is an evolutionary explanation, but this is gigantic kleptocracy, that has to be dealt with.

[WelshClipper]

i imagine the urge to cheat has been with us since the garden of eden, and perhaps there is an evolutionary explanation, but this is gigantic kleptocracy, that has to be dealt with.

Agreed. Its the sheer scale that is indefensible. Like UK apparently lending 200m to Jordan and Jordans king investing 70m in offshore property.

Or maybe thats okay. 

[mradventures]

the amounts they get away with, dwarf what everyday folks might do on the side, and they are in a far better position to afford it too.

as for lack of americans, it might be because they use home grown tax havens like delaware? or there might be pending investigations or something. or they might be being protected.

[Gregoxf]

It might well be that the US tax laws aren’t that bad it begin with hence why they’re not trying to beat the system

[Problem Child]

It might well be that the US tax laws aren’t that bad it begin with hence why they’re not trying to beat the system

[Proton]

It might well be that the US tax laws aren’t that bad it begin with hence why they’re not trying to beat the system

EVEN BETTER,  Just go to South Dakota or Nevada you don't need an island tax haven, it's already inland not offshore

[Marmalade]

TBH I'd be surprised if the rich and powerful didn't do this.

Of course they do.

And if any of it is “illegal” then it’s only illegal because some government feels entitled to grab some of it.

The Swiss had some of the fairest finance laws in the world until Uncle cunt Sam sat his big arse on them.

Compared to the Facebook Leaks it doesn’t strike me as quite such horrendous news.

It’s not the money (IMO) but what certain shady characters probably do with it. Again, see the new Bond film for fairly believable futuristic ideas… People really do need to distinguish between matter and motion. Prostitution isn’t ‘bad’ — only the trafficking, if and where existent, that ‘makes’ it so. Money isn’t ‘evil’ — only the heinous crimes against others for which some people try to use it.