Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Preaching from shifting sands
We have already seen reports that one of the directors of the Taxpayers Alliance lives in a farmhouse in the Loire and has not paid British tax for years. Despite that his organisation constantly lectures the public sector on how they should spend other people's taxes.
Now it seems that there is a comparable example on a larger scale. The Independent reports that IMF chief Christine Lagarde has been accused of hypocrisy after it emerged that she pays no income tax, just days after blaming the Greeks for causing their financial peril by dodging their own bills.
The paper says that as the managing director of the International Monetary Fund she is paid a salary of $467,940 (£298,675), automatically increased every year according to inflation. On top of that she receives an allowance of $83,760, payable without "justification", and additional expenses for entertainment, making her total package worth more than the amount received by US President Barack Obama according to reports last night.
They add that unlike Mr Obama, she does not have to pay any tax on this substantial income because of her diplomatic status.
Obviously this has not gone down well in Greece and nor should it.
Now it seems that there is a comparable example on a larger scale. The Independent reports that IMF chief Christine Lagarde has been accused of hypocrisy after it emerged that she pays no income tax, just days after blaming the Greeks for causing their financial peril by dodging their own bills.
The paper says that as the managing director of the International Monetary Fund she is paid a salary of $467,940 (£298,675), automatically increased every year according to inflation. On top of that she receives an allowance of $83,760, payable without "justification", and additional expenses for entertainment, making her total package worth more than the amount received by US President Barack Obama according to reports last night.
They add that unlike Mr Obama, she does not have to pay any tax on this substantial income because of her diplomatic status.
Obviously this has not gone down well in Greece and nor should it.
