Tice: Pay as little tax as legally possible, not more
Tice: Pay as little tax as legally possible, not more
Richard Tice argues Britons should pay only what tax law requires, amid reports he avoided nearly £600k in corporation tax; he defends his company and attacks Labour's calls for an HMRC probe.
Richard Tice used a central London press conference to push a controversial view: Britons should pay only what the law requires, not more, arguing that paying more would harm the economy.
The Reform UK deputy leader was responding to reports by the Sunday Times that his property group reduced its corporation tax by nearly £600,000. He insisted he complies with all relevant tax rules and questioned the moral obligation to pay more than what is legally required, saying a policy of overpaying could undermine economic stability.
Tice defended Quidnet Reit Ltd as a UK company paying UK tax in line with UK laws, and he directed scrutiny at Labour, accusing the party of failures to meet tax obligations in its own properties operations. He contrasted his position with what he called Labour’s approach, arguing that the focus should be on legal compliance rather than moral mandates to pay more.
In a pointed line of inquiry, he raised questions about Labour Party Properties Limited, suggesting it has paid little or nothing in taxes over a 25-year span, noting that its accounts are independently audited. He framed his own stance as a business-friendly position designed to protect the economy, while accusing Labour of mismanaging public funds and overstepping their remit.
The exchange drew a response from Labour lawmakers, with Anna Turley, chair of the Labour Party, countering Tice’s framing and reiterating calls for scrutiny when questions about tax arrangements arise. The episode has fed into a broader debate about tax fairness, corporate responsibility, and the boundaries of legally compliant tax planning in the UK.
