Why did the former UK chancellor have to pay £5m to settle a tax dispute? - BBC News

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has ordered an investigation into the disclosures made about the tax affairs of the Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi. 

Mr Zahawi is facing calls to resign, after it emerged he paid a penalty over previously unpaid tax in the UK while he was chancellor, as part of a multi-million pound dispute. 

He said he was "confident" he had "acted properly throughout". 

#BBCNews

[squirrel]

If I am careless I go to jail, if politicians are careless they have their buddies investigate them

[markhayward]

Does anyone really believe that paying £5 million to HMRC, of which more than £1 million is a penalty payment, is the result of a "careless" rather than "deliberate" mistake? Zahawi has attempted to avoid paying what he should have in taxes. He is still not being honest about what he did or didn't do, and when, in relation to his tax affairs. His position in Govt is untenable (to everyone, it seems, except Rishi Sunak).

[bilpat]

Don't forget he Claimed £8000 as expenses of the tax payers money to heat his stables... which when investigated it was a 'mistake'

[julieyates]

The people of the UK are struggling to feed their kids and keep them warm.... I think we are all sick of this stuff, and 'servants of the people' benefiting themselves!

[michaelc]

Mr Zahawi makes a habit of being 'careless'. Remember his expenses claim to heat his horse stables? He said that was an 'honest mistake', too. His business dealings have long been the subject of speculation.

[PhyzzFizz]

if it was a member of the public, jail time would have been the result

[joey]

£3.5m in tax owed from the £23m+ he received from offshore, which he didn't declare to HMRC. The additional £1.5m would have been interest/penalty from HMRC as a result of his "mistake". This is all whilst he was the chancellor of the exchequer too...

[nozhki-busha]

I think "why hasnt he been sacked?" is a better question!

[bushwhackeddos.]

Remember they become politicians because they really want to help people…..

[boota]

The word democracy is just that a word, it has no worth and is meaningless. The older I get the more remote I feel about my country, I feel as though the very fabric of our society is being eroded to the point I barely recognise it any more.

[jonluis]

They’re all corrupt to the core, this one was just unlucky to get caught

[ripvanwinkle]

If he knew what he was doing, he should not be in the position he's employed in. If he DIDN'T know what he was doing, he ALSO should not be in the position he's employed in. Even with my levels of despair and cynicism, the degree of corruption of this country's officials never ceases to amaze me.

[mrb.]

Yeah, I'm always making 'careless' mistakes that save me paying *millions* in tax payments.

[grantkenny]

I’m not sure what concerns me more….if it’s a deliberate attempt not to pay tax… he’s a crook…if it’s a oversight or negligent attitude towards his taxes…then he’s incompetent and irresponsible….!

But should we trust him either way to have a say in how the UK is governed ….🤷‍♂️

[govermentsoundsystemrootik]

Let me say again in case of any confusion but the only person in the face of British history to have stepped foot in Parliament with the best of intentions was Guy Fawkes..!!

[sirchriswitlessjesuitpuppe]

"If voting made any difference, they wouldn't let us do it.”

[Sumi_S]

Look how government officials are that rich
They arnt meant to be that rich
They are meant to work for the public

[kimreid]

ALL POLITICIANS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED CORRUPTION IS RAMPANT

[peteraston]

If those shares were a gift that is breaking UK Tax laws which says gifts are limited to £3, 000

[sirchriswitlessjesuitpuppe]

*The general public don't decide who runs the country, the people who run the country, select a bunch of candidates/actors, create a bunch of parties, assign the selected candidates to the different parties and then hold elections, so that the general public think that they are diciding who runs the country.*