The Despatches programme, entitled ‘How the Rich Avoid Tax’, sees one adviser tell Wise that tax is “voluntary” and could be avoided by using a Belizean trust arrangement.
According to reports ahead of the broadcast, Wise, who is married to actress Emma Thompson, called the HMRC “shameful” and criticised it for not taking a harsher stand against tax avoiders.
Two advisers feature in the programme – one is Guildford-based financial adviser Tony Ashbolt. The managing director of Connaught Corporate Solutions mentioned the scheme in Belize and is reported as saying paying tax was a question of one’s “moral barometer”.
In addition, the program will feature Peter Nichols of Valhalla Private Client Services in Northamptonshire telling Wise to use an enterprise investment scheme to bring his tax bill down to zero.
Ire at HSBC
In February 2015, Wise and Thompson made headlines for leading a tax boycott over scandal involving the Swiss arm of HSBC, in which the bank was found to be helping clients move assets out of the country to avoid paying tax.
HMRC also came under fire as despite more than 1,000 tax evaders – of the roughly 7,000 UK clients, only one was prosecuted.
In an Evening Standard interview last February Wise was reported as saying: “I want to stop paying tax, until everyone pays tax.
“I have actively loved paying tax, because I am a profound f****** socialist and I believe we are all in it together. But I am disgusted with HMRC. I am disgusted with HSBC. And I’m not paying a penny more until those evil bastards go to prison.”
