nun

Well Boris Johnson's dual citizenship and tax status surfaces again.

New-York-born London mayor Boris Johnson refuses to pay US tax bill | Politics | The Guardian

johnnybrown532

What a bloody hypocrite! I seem to remember him going on about the embassy refusing to pay the congestion charges. I wonder if he will renounce the U.S Citizenship and never been allowed back in again

theOAP

And here:

Mayor Boris Johnson's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day...As An American - Forbes

sir_eccles

I love how the Guardian quotes him complete with all the extra ums and errs and you knows.

theOAP

The betting amongst the chattering class is his US tax problems (if there are any) won't become an issue. Too delicate of an issue with possible bad press on both sides of the Atlantic. Note the final sentence in the Guardian article: "The mayor’s spokesman said he would not be commenting further on his US tax affairs."

Boris joins an elite club:

Penny Pritzker, who was worth $1.5 billion at the time, neglected to report $80 million income to IRS due to a “clerical error.” She did eventually report it, on the eve of her hearings to be Secretary of Commerce. She was appointed Secretary of Commerce the next day.

Timothy Geithner was appointed Secretary of Treasury after mistakes of failing to pay payroll taxes on income he received from the International Monetary Fund to the IRS over 4 years.

Jack Lew admitted before the Senate Finance Committee he “didn’t know” he had $56,000 in the Cayman Islands, from which he benefited via a current tax law that allowed a decrease in his investment principal. He's now Secretary of Treasury.

Giantaxe

The more sunlight that is shone on the US's pernicious tax policies towards non-resident citizens the better imo. I hope Boris sticks to his guns, becomes Prime Minister and then visits the US...

nun

Boris must be filing 1040s, how else would he have an outstanding capital gains tax bill with the IRS. He dealt with this terribly and made some stupid comments. His lack of political skills is probably more of an issue for his future career than some tax problems.

There is a bigger problem of a US citizen working for a foreign government and swearing allegiance to a foreign head of state. He needs to renounce if he wants to progress in UK politics.

sir_eccles

It is certainly an interesting mess he is in. As you say his continuing retention of the US citizenship should be asking lots of questions of his suitability for office. Yet people still vote for him and even suggest he is in line for PM.

a18ion

Irrespective of whether you think BJ is a twat or not, it's useful for a "leading figure" to raise the profile of this problem. How many of the 535 members of congress really understand the issue. If a prime minister of Britain (appreciate that's a long shot for BJ) refused to comply, it would certainly get people talking. And what's missing is a reasonable debate.

I thought it interesting on the Guardian site that someone mentioned US Corps can park earning overseas. Why not have a "remittance based" taxation for US expats abroad. So, if you bring your earnings back to the USA, you pay tax, but if you stay abroad, you don't. That can deal with the "principle" that the US taxes its Citizens abroad, but only if they bring it home.

sir_eccles

It won't prompt debate though. A great floppy haired fuss will be made before he pays up and it will suddenly go quiet. He'll say one thing while doing another. You may or may not recall when this issue of his citizenship first arose he loudly proclaimed he was going to renounce forthwith then later on one of his minions was seen going to the Embassy to renew his US passport. Typical politician.

bewildering

"We don't pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes"

Giantaxe

They presumably saw his change of address on his 1040, his level of income (maybe) and queried whether he'd sold his residence.

theOAP

That's a far too sensible suggestion.

Giantaxe

It would also make it more consistent with the taxation of US corporations, which apparently are people anyway.

theOAP

His presence in Parliament as a US citizen was not an issue in the past. If Wiki is to be believed:

"Joining the Conservatives, he was elected MP for Henley in 2001. During his period in the House of Commons, Johnson became one of the most conspicuous politicians in the country, authoring books and making regular television appearances. Under Conservative leaders Michael Howard and David Cameron, Johnson served on the opposition front bench, first as Shadow Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries and then for Higher Education."