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George Osborne Tax Avoidance Advice Re-Emerges After Tax Credit Climbdown

6 George Osborne Tax Bloopers That Brilliantly Counter Claims Of Competency
George Bowden
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George Osborne is experiencing yet another tax nightmare after being forced into a humiliating withdrawal over his controversial cuts to tax credits.

The ensuing furore is making people remember the time the Chancellor took to national television to advocate avoiding pesky taxes altogether.

Osborne will now delay the implementation of the working credit reforms until he could form a plan to "compensate" those who would lose thousands as a result of the changes.

But in footage from the BBC's Daily Politics programme aired in 2003, above, Osborne talks viewers through helpful ways to lower their tax obligations - not quite in keeping with his current role as tax-collector-in-chief.

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A younger George Osborne advises how to avoid inheritance tax

Here are another 5 more tax bloopers that left George Osborne red faced...

5 George Osborne Tax Bloopers
Trying His Best To Tax Pasties(01 of05)
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Long-standing VAT legislation excludes food to eat or cook at home, but has fewer provisions for food that is 'incidentally' hot -- in particular takeaway foods and hot counter products.

The effort to make the tax simpler for hot takeaway food took on a life of its own as the media focussed upon its effect on a British lunchtime staple: the pasty.

Osborne was held to account for his efforts to tax pasties, and was even made to declare the last time he ate one to Parliament.

Osborne significantly altered his plans for the tax after hostility from the public and the press to his 'omnishambles' budget of 2012. (credit:Associated Press)
Saving A Corporation £1bn(02 of05)
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UK-based telecoms giant Vodafone was accused in 2010 of not paying as much as £6bn in tax -- leading to a furore over large-scale corporate tax avoidance.

Reports said that the company had placed around £2.2bn in its corporate reserves to pay a tax bill to the Exchequer, but that following negotiations involving George Osborne, the bill was reduced.

Rather than paying all of the £2.2bn it had put aside for the bill, Vodafone paid £1.25bn. (credit:Matthew Lloyd via Getty Images)
Twisting On Sin Taxes(03 of05)
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Osborne didn't limit his taxation zeal to comfort food in 2012, and increased levies placed upon alcohol - dubbed a "sin tax" by many - but he's since changed his mind.

Excise taxes are often criticised for burdoning the poor and increasing the nanny state - and it may well be these arguments which have prompted a distinct change in mind from the Chancellor since his 'omnishambles'.

While he demanded an extra £33m from drinkers in 2012 he has since cut beer duties for pulled pints each year since, and recently lowered duty on spirits, and frozen wine duty. (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Turning On Tip Taxes (04 of05)
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So-called skip taxes are concerned with reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfill, but George Osborne couldn't help but tinker with the charges leading to at least one humiliating "u-turn".

Once a skip is filled, recyclable material is sorted and removed, before the remaining waste is measured and weighed.

This waste is assumed to be headed for landfill, and so a "fine" is levied against the skip operator based on the remaining waste measured.

Osborne's tinkering with the levy in 2012 drew the ire of waste management companies who feared their bottom line would be affected as contributions rose by 2500%.

It was one of a handful of "policy climbdowns" enforced by the Treasury that year, as it quickly sought to clarify the policy after the criticism. (credit:hxdyl via Getty Images)
Taxing Grannies And Grandads(05 of05)
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Osborne surprised many in 2012 by introducing a raft of tax changes which primarily effected old aged pensioners, who could have been forgiven for previously considering the Chancellor to have their best interests at heart.

Unflatteringly dubbed the "granny tax" the changes were designed to freeze the personal allowance of those above retirement age, leading to increased tax contributions.

4.5 million people were predicted to be £83 a year worse off. And the 360,00 people would lose an average of £285 a year, reports said.

The changes went ahead, with the Chancellor embarrassed by widespread opposition from previously supportive older people's groups and charities. (credit:dolgachov via Getty Images)

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