Broadcaster John Simpson admits tax avoidance

Broadcaster John Simpson admits tax avoidance

The BBC world affairs editor John Simpson admits he used to be involved in a tax avoidance scheme

BBC JOURNALIST John Simpson has openly admitted taking part in a tax avoidance scheme, placing his home with an offshore company until he realised his mistake.

The BBC world affairs editor revealed he put his London home under the control of a Bahamas-based company controlled by his wife, Dee Kruger.

The scheme, which is entirely legal, allowed beneficiaries to avoid paying inheritance tax or stamp duty upon sale.

“I pay rather a lot of tax,” Simpson told The Independent. “It’s absolutely right for a citizen of this country to pay whatever amount of tax, within reason, the government of the day feels is required. It’s painful but I think that’s part of the duties of a citizen of this country.”

Simpson decided to end the arrangement before the controversy surrounding comedian Jimmy Carr’s tax affairs broke.

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