Boris Johnson pays 'absolutely outrageous' American tax bill

[super jumbe]

London Mayor Boris Johnson has reportedly agreed to pay a six-figure tax bill to the United States government over a house in London that he sold six years ago.

Johnson, who holds both US and British passports, had previously refused to pay the "absolutely outrageous" bill, but appears to have given in ahead of a visit to Boston, New York and Washington next month.

The Daily Telegraph claims the bill is in the region of ?100,000 and relates to the sale of a house in Islington, north London.

US citizens are legally required to file a tax return and pay US taxes, including capital gains tax, wherever they are living. Johnson, who was born in New York, bought the property in Islington for ?470,000 in 1999 and sold it for ?1.2m in 2009, a ?730,000 increase.

Mark Sher, a US tax specialist at American private wealth manager Maseco, previously told City AM: "He's a citizen with a US passport, and therefore must pay US taxes. The possibility of him going to jail is minimal, because he'll probably end up paying the tax. But if he doesn't, jail becomes a very distinct reality."

Johnson's "allies" told the Financial Times the bill was "nowhere near" the ?100,000 estimate but said there was now no question of him being "detained by the Internal Revenue Service at JFK airport".
Last November, the mayor was asked by National Public Radio in America if he would pay the bill. "No is the answer. I think it's absolutely outrageous. Why should I?" he said. "I haven't lived in the United States since I was five years old. I pay my taxes in full in the United Kingdom, where I live and work."

Meanwhile, Johnson is reportedly pursuing the American embassy for ?8m in unpaid congestion charges. The embassy claims its diplomats are immune. ?

http://www.theweek.co.uk/people/62211/boris-johnson-pays-absolutely-outrageous-american-tax-bill

[gmb45]

just shows you how rich our mps are, enuff said.

[super jumbe]

Boris citizen of another country then he has a conflict of interests being a UK politician if you ask me, he should either resign his position and retire from politics or give up his US citizenship but he should not be permitted to do both!!!!

[gmb45]

oh and this hoose he brought and made an epic profit would more than likely been paid for by the tax payer, enuff said again.

[super jumbe]

They don’t tell us which country they belong at the time of voting….

[GastonJ]

the mayor was asked by National Public Radio in America if he would pay the bill. "No is the answer. I think it's absolutely outrageous. Why should I?"

London Mayor Boris Johnson has reportedly agreed to pay a six-figure tax bill to the United States government over a house in London that he sold six years ago

Spoken like a true politician. His mate Dave said he wouldn't pay the EU last year and promptly agreed to pay them as well. Not only joint nationality, but two faced as well.

[Meat-Head]

but two faced as well.

Gaston your good with computers link not working

Two-faced-book.com/dave&boris/usedcarsales

had you thought if he dudnt pay somebody would have revealed what INFERIOR sites they used

[gopher7]

Was Boris not wanting to be Prime Minister.??
Don't think he can if he's an American Citizen.

Just thinking out loud.

[GastonJ]

Sad thing is that he can, and if Dave isn't successful in selling his used car to the in May, then Boris stands every chance of becoming the net Con party leader, even though George thinks it's his for being every bit of a slimy two faced tw@ the same as Dave and Boris. Worst of it s the south of the country gain during the time the Cons are in and will vote for them again. That's why they cap any aid to those less well off who live in the south and ship them north. That way they'll end up with more in the south. Akin to social cleansing of the south by any other name, where (and I haven't checked the split) there will no doubt be more MP's than in the North.

[lestasmsc]

Surprising. I'm sure UK government let's people get away with tax.

[GastonJ]

The current UK government only lets large companies and those with a lot of money get away without paying tax. If you want to avoid paying any tax then go for breakfast with Dave and donate money to the Tories.

[jcgrumbles]

Just another one with the snout in the trough,i wish nothing but the pox on them all...