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EnergyCelebrity tax dodgers revealed
Filed under: Tax
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No matter how rich and famous you are, taxes remain a fact of life.And failing to pay them can get you into trouble, as singer Lauryn Hill - formerly of The Fugees - has found out the hard way.
The hip hop star has been charged with knowingly failing to file income tax returns in the US during a period of three years when she is thought to have earned a massive $1.6 million (£1.03 million) in royalties.
But Hill is far from the only famous face to field awkward questions about their earnings. Here are five UK celebrities who have done their best to pay the taxman as little as possible.
Tony Blair
In January of this year, the former Prime Minister Tony Blair was found to have paid tax of just £315,000 on earnings of £12 million.
His astonishingly low tax bill was "explained" by the channelling of millions of pounds through a complicated web of companies.
Kerry Katona
In 2008, singer and reality TV star Kerry Katona was declared bankrupt at the High Court in London after failing to pay the final £82,000 of a £417,000 tax bill.
She blamed her accountant for the verdict and decided to storm his offices, resulting in her spending spent eight hours in a police cell before being released on bail.
The Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger and his bandmates made the shrewd decision to base the holding company managing their music rights in The Netherlands, rather than the UK, way back in 1972.
It has certainly paid off for the ageing rockers, who apparently paid just £3.9 million tax on royalties earnings of an incredible £240 million during the 20 years to 2006.
Lester Piggott
In 1987, champion jockey Lester Piggot was sentenced to three years in prison for failing to declare income of about £3 million.
The nine-times Derby winner was prosecuted in what was then the biggest individual income tax-dodging case ever brought in the UK.
However, jail time did not prevent him resuming his riding career on his release.
Chris Eubank
In November 2005, former boxing world champion Chris Eubank was declared bankrupt for owing £1.3m in unpaid taxes.
The blow came shortly after his wife Karron petitioned for divorce.
But Hill is far from the only famous face to field awkward questions about their earnings. Here are five UK celebrities who have done their best to pay the taxman as little as possible.
Tony Blair
In January of this year, the former Prime Minister Tony Blair was found to have paid tax of just £315,000 on earnings of £12 million.
His astonishingly low tax bill was "explained" by the channelling of millions of pounds through a complicated web of companies.
Kerry Katona
In 2008, singer and reality TV star Kerry Katona was declared bankrupt at the High Court in London after failing to pay the final £82,000 of a £417,000 tax bill.
She blamed her accountant for the verdict and decided to storm his offices, resulting in her spending spent eight hours in a police cell before being released on bail.
The Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger and his bandmates made the shrewd decision to base the holding company managing their music rights in The Netherlands, rather than the UK, way back in 1972.
It has certainly paid off for the ageing rockers, who apparently paid just £3.9 million tax on royalties earnings of an incredible £240 million during the 20 years to 2006.
Lester Piggott
In 1987, champion jockey Lester Piggot was sentenced to three years in prison for failing to declare income of about £3 million.
The nine-times Derby winner was prosecuted in what was then the biggest individual income tax-dodging case ever brought in the UK.
However, jail time did not prevent him resuming his riding career on his release.
Chris Eubank
In November 2005, former boxing world champion Chris Eubank was declared bankrupt for owing £1.3m in unpaid taxes.
The blow came shortly after his wife Karron petitioned for divorce.
