Sir Terry in The Times

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Little Pixie

Lance-Constable
May 14, 2009
15
2,150
#1
Not sure where to put this, but Sir Terry has a letter published in today`s Times ( Saturday, 23rd May). :)

From The TimesMay 23, 2009

Taxworld

What is an author to do when every other word he writes will be written for the Chancellor of the Exchequer?

Sir, I am very definitely a high-rate taxpayer, although in self-defence, I must admit I have become so simply by writing a lot of fairly harmless books over a very long time rather than by, for example, ripping the heart out of the financial system through unbridled greed.

So I am, therefore, somewhat peeved to find that, now, slightly more than every other word I write will be written for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who will undoubtedly waste the money on computers that don’t work and other people’s duck shelters.

I have been enormously buoyed up, though, by hearing from journalists and other pundits that “the rich won’t end up paying the 50 per cent income tax because their smart accountants will find a way around it”. When I put this to my own accountant, a senior member of a reputable London firm, he laughed and said: “Unless you want to go and live abroad for a very long time, or associate with some extremely unsavoury people, or invest in risky tax schemes, then for someone like you there is really nothing that can be done.”

I assume he knows his stuff and the tax authorities know theirs, so why is this bland assertion repeated so regularly?

Sir Terry Pratchett

Salisbury, Wilts

PS. I have no intention whatsoever of moving to a firm of disreputable accountants.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article6345236.ece
 

Batty

Sergeant
Feb 17, 2009
4,154
2,600
East Anglia
#3
He has a lovely turn of phrase!

Perhaps he should ask the Patrician to have a word with the Chancellor?
... or ask Joanna Lumley to take up the cause?
 

Trish

Corporal
Apr 23, 2009
518
1,925
Wintersville, Ohio
#8
Woah... Moist's taxation-of storyline doesn't need any help. ;0)

Sir Terry could mitigate Inland Revenue's inroads on his income.
(Say that real fast 10 times. Go ahead, I dare you.)

How?
Just leave out all the vowels and linking verbs.
We'll figure it out....
 

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