Hamilton makes tax move admission?

Question

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/7088652.stm
Formula One star Lewis Hamilton has admitted he is moving to Switzerland partly to avoid the UK taxman.
The 22-year-old McLaren driver, from Stevenage in Herts, previously cited privacy as his reason for leaving.
But he admitted on television chat show Parkinson that tax was an issue as well as the photographers pursuing him.


whats your take on this news???

Answer 1

Well lets face it if you earned 1,000,000 in the next year and, the good old labour government said they were going to take 400,000 of it in tax. what would you do? i'd be out of here in a flash!

Answer 2

My take:
(1) I find it rather strange that a kid of 22 should come to formula 1 and beat the skill and experience of the more seasoned drivers. I find that a bit hard to believe.. but of course I could be wrong. Connected ? -- on the news last week, Hamilton needed only 16 hours driving lessons to pass his driving test. THAT is utter bullshit. There is no way that Mr. Levis Hamilton could have met the standard of driving required in the UK to pass his driving test. Average number of hours for anyone with a minimum of ability is 60 hours nowadays. Seldom below 40 and so 16 is impossible.
(2) However, if he is that Godly-like then all the money he may earn is HIS and I accept anything he may want to do to manipulate it -- so my real take on Hamilton is the bullshit that surrounds him and his ability. What I do know is that is it utter cra*p that he only needed 16 hours to pass the test. I am in the driving school business and I tell you that is a LIE.

Answer 3

Well in the scales of things,he earnt it.And as for anyone else,your not tied here,its a free europe,offf you go.The systems elsewhere arn,t quite up to this standard,but hey,you dont like it here.But of course,those that retire to Spain,still get there pension from here.And regardless of what we think,this is the real deal,fact i bought my 1st house for £1700 and of course slipped up the ladder easily,as did so many my age.But now,they sell for attrocious profits and leave the country with the young struggling saying how bad it is here,and it was my generation that screwed it.At least i will stay and help any way i can,because what happened between 1965 and 1995 will never happen again Clever

Answer 4

Oh come on now, Switzerland - tax evasion - doesn't take a genious to put 2+2 together now does it? He must think UK public are thick ....but then again .....

Oh and by the way he's also written an autobiography - erm yes at the age of 22, so he obviously anticipates a lot of sales of this ....what is it going to tell us, how hard it is to drive a racing car and how hard he's worked.....he must really be thinking he's going to earn mega £££££ and he's escaped early. I for one won't buy it, or for that matter won't even get it from the library.

Answer 5

I'm sure if the tax here was the same as Switzerland he would put up with the press.

Answer 6

the guy has a talent without doubt, as for the tax reasons & such,well lets just say this fellow has been well briefed.

Answer 7

I don´t live in the UK but for those that do, if you don´t mind him working in the UK at McClaren and YOU paying more taxes to help millionaires like him, then good for you.

Answer 8

It is his money and his life, what he does with both is none of anyone else's business.
EDIT
In reply to the person below me, I passed my driving test after 6 hours of lessons. He must be a lousy instructor.

Answer 9

don't blame him one bit how many drivers from U.K live abroad majority .60% tax for earning u.k millions in tv and business.

Answer 10

Fair play to him, who wants to have to pay 20%+ of their wages in tax?