Call to boycott U2's new albumn and remove their Passports

[myk]

At the risk of repeating myself,

Quote:
Originally Posted by islands
The point is, it was based in Ireland, as long as Ireland didn't charge tax on artists' royalties. And that made some sense, as it's the intellectual property, and the boys themselves live here

But as soon as Ireland capped the artists scheme, and they had to pay tax here on the royalty income, they moved it to the Netherlands.

They're not Dutch, they have no reason to have it there, other than the avoidance of tax

The point is not that it should be Irish, Dutch or Nepalese. The point is they actively engaged in avoiding tax. I don't give a flying %$£ if Bono and the boys all move to Holland and live happily there for the rest of their lives. But that's not what they're doing.

do you feel the same about huge employers who opened factories and subsidiaries here in part due to our tax rates? do you think Intel should leave? and Google? and Wyeth? do you think they should be boycotted?

[iartaoiseach]

actually I think you will find that John O'Shea is criticising how governments in developing countries spend aid money, not how charities do!

He does criticise governments you are right- maybe I should have expanded, my point is some (not all) charities work with these governments. While I agree with your point about the Irish government it still doesn't excuse avoidance of taxes. I pay motor tax even though I wouldn't have the greatest trust in the government's transport policies.

[Oppenheimer]

"They're not your typical Dublin band, they're actually a really fresh and exciting group of millionaire property developers who have invented this fresh, exciting sound where all the songs are exactly the same."

MUSIC TO STAY EXACTLY THE SAME FOREVER - The Daily Mash

[myk]

He does criticise governments you are right- maybe I should have expanded, my point is some (not all) charities work with these governments. While I agree with your point about the Irish government it still doesn't excuse avoidance of taxes. I pay motor tax even though I wouldn't have the greatest trust in the government's transport policies.

you pay it because you are legally obliged to. if the government had a discretionary tax would you pay that?

[iartaoiseach]

do you feel the same about huge employers who opened factories and subsidiaries here in part due to our tax rates? do you think Intel should leave? and Google? and Wyeth? do you think they should be boycotted?

i wouldn't be holding up multinational corps as an example of how to conduct oneself. and I wouldn't think the are of more benefit to Ireland than Ireland has been to them if that was the case I doubt they would be here.

[COMMIE]

He pays not tax. And its tax that pay for Oversea's Development Aid.

The people making this point are aid charties themselfs for Gods sake!

[islands]

do you feel the same about huge employers who opened factories and subsidiaries here in part due to our tax rates? do you think Intel should leave? and Google? and Wyeth? do you think they should be boycotted?

I'm not actually calling for a boycott of U2.

I do think they're hypocrites though

[iartaoiseach]

you pay it because you are legally obliged to. if the government had a discretionary tax would you pay that?

I would in all honesty if I agreed with the principle.

[Libero]

Bono, and U2 still pay tax in Ireland and I'd wager they pay more than any poster on this board. Just because they restructured their taxes internationally doesn't mean that they are not tax resident in Ireland and paying income tax on their personal earnings. They may have a company collecting income that is taxable in the Netherlands, but their personal income out of this company as well as other income that they have is still taxable in Ireland.

I think people have some strong misconceptions about U2 and their tax affairs based on very little knowledge. If anyone would like to provide a link showing that the guys are not tax resident in Ireland, please do so.

Very good point from myk. As a touring band who record aborad, U2 could easily become non-resident for income tax purposes - like hundreds of other wealthy Irish people. But they don't. Fair play to them says I. We need all that tax revenue on touring and merchandise, if not album sales.

Also, for all their critics know, Bono and U2 could make significant donations directly to the developing world, rather than through taxes (where only about 0.5% would go to that cause). Certainly, Bono gives lots of his time to that cause.

I just think that campaigning for increased government expenditure on overseas development assistance whilst simultaneously doing your level best to pay as little tax here as possible is hypocritical.

Even if you offset tax saved with direct donations? (I don't know if U2 do this.)
Do you think someone claiming tax relief on medical expenses is hypocritical if they urge the government to spend more on health care?

[myk]

He pays not tax. And its tax that pay for Oversea's Development Aid.

The people making this point are aid charties themselfs for Gods sake!

just because a charity says something doesn't mean its right. Charities aren't the Pope!

he pays tax, as do all the other members. they pay more tax each year than you will pay in your life, I'd wager.