F1 | Tax havens and tax evasion, Lewis Hamilton also involved

In the scandal published by the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung on tax havens in the world, which would allow many personalities from the world of entertainment, sport and beyond to take your capital abroad or complete very advantageous economic operations, would also be involved Lewis Hamilton. in Paradise Papers, or the documents that describe all the financial operations in these territories, would appear to be the red Bombardier CL635 Challenger plane that the pilot uses for his very frequent trips.

Among the other incriminated operations also a “refund” of £3,3 million in VAT (which in English is Vat) for the purchase of a private plane, which was transferred for tax purposes to the Isle of Man in 2013 from Canada, making the deal a permitted leasing transaction. This is because the island is used precisely because it has a tax system such that no tax is paid on luxury planes. This does not comply with the European regulation. After being quoted by the Guardian, the Isle of Man government has called on the UK Tax Office, which will this month begin a review of 231 tax refunds issued to private jet owners since 2011, bringing in around £1 billion VAT. The operation will be assessed by HM Revenue and Customs. Hamilton appears to have used companies in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), the Isle of Man and Guernsey to avoid the full £3,3 million in VAT activated to import its 16,5 million red Bombardier plane to England from Canada in 2013. Hamilton set up another Isle of Man company to purchase a motorhome worth 1.7 million euros which he uses during racing. It appears that no type of VAT was paid on that purchase. Hamilton denies using shell companies.

How the operation was carried outHamilton's plane: Lewis Hamilton's jet is legally owned by a company in the British Virgin Islands. The jet is imported into the EU via the Isle of Man company. VAT is not paid because it is part of a jet leasing business. The jet is rented by a company that deals with personnel and maintenance. No third party rents the jet, it is only operated by Hamilton.

Also involved in similar operations Donald Trump. According to Hamilton's lawyers there is nothing illegal. The name of also appeared in the series of scandals Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), need  Appleby, the consultancy firm specializing in tax havens.

The British newspaper does the math in Hamilton's pocket and recognizes him as a assets of 130 million spread across many tax havens such as Malta or Guernsey. The defense came from a spokesperson for the Englishman who tried to exonerate the new champion: “Being a global athlete who pays taxes in many countries, Lewis relies on a team of professional consultants to manage his affairs. These consultants have reassured Hamilton that everything has been done openly and the matter is now in the hands of his lawyers."

Fabiola Granier