The story alleged that Carr’s earnings from DVD sales, stand-up tours and TV are funnelled into a Jersey-based company that then ‘lends’ him the money back. Since loans are untaxable, Jimmy avoids a huge tax bill. And it’s all perfectly legal. According to the Times someone who owes £127k tax under PAYE would only owe £3,500 under this scheme. Naturally our first thought was: how do we get involved? Answers on an email please.
As the scheme is based in Jersey, we like to think it was rumbled by Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac. It wasn’t though. He’s not real. Admit it though, you’ve now got the theme tune stuck in your head.
Rather embarrassingly for Carr, he recently performed a comedy sketch for Channel 4’s 10 o’clock Live where, dressed as a woman, he lampooned Barclays, for, ahem, alleged tax avoidance. “Why don’t you apply for the Barclays 1 per cent tax scam?” he joked, “You’ll need the world’s biggest, most aggressive team of blood-hungry amoral tax lawyers. If you meet the criteria, you’ll pay 1 per cent tax, like Barclays do.”
The news left our pal Robin Ince with a bit of a dilemma, which he shared with us on Twitter: “Oh dear, seems people are questioning Jimmy Carr, who will be my moral compass now?”
If true, it's not the first time Carr has used the law to save money. In 2009, Carr's lawyer, known as Mr Loophole for his skill at getting celebrities off the hook on legal technicalities, ensured Jimmy’s speeding charge (43mph in a 30 zone, allegedly) was thrown out of court on a, you guessed it, legal technicality.
At least if Jimmy decides to sue The Times he won't have to pay much tax on his winnings. Allegedly.
Copyright : Comedy Central UK