SPOTY winner Hamilton hits back at tax exile claims
Sports personailty of the year Hamilton 'pays a lot of tax' in the UK, he argues, as commentators criticise his tax status
THE NEW BBC Sports Personality of the Year has hit back at claims that he is hypocritical for celebrating being British yet is based abroad for tax purposes.
Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has received criticism for being based reportedly in Geneva and Monaco at times, with a slew of comments on his tax exile status passed following his success on the BBC awards programme last night.
Many took to Twitter to criticise him, including footballer Joey Barton:
Can’t believe they gave SPOTY to Hamilton. 1. Formula 1 is the most boring sport ever. 2. He brought a dog with him. 3. He’s a tax exile.
— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) December 15, 2014
But Hamilton has hit back at concerns. He said that he pays tax in the UK, “but I don’t earn all my money here”.
“I race in 19 different countries, so I earn my money in 20 different places and I pay tax in several different places, and I pay a lot here as well,” he told the Sunday Times’ Style Magazine.
“I am contributing to the country and, not only that, I help to keep a team of more than 1,000 people employed.”