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Goldsmith under pressure as overseas tax links exposed

TORY London mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith was challenged to come clean yesterday over claims he has exploited his nondom status to dodge millions in tax.

 

Labour called for Mr Goldsmith to clear up questions hanging over his tax arrangements after he danced around the controversial issue in a Newsnight interview on Tuesday.

 

The Richmond MP was asked why his family’s assets, worth hundreds of millions of pounds, were registered in Geneva.

 

He stressed that he had “always lived in the UK” and “always paid full tax on my income in the UK.”

 

But he admitted that he was a beneficiary of the Swiss tax haven through the arrangement established by his late father, a billionaire businessman.

 

In previous interviews he has said only that “virtually all” of his income is in Britain and that he has gained “very few benefits” from his nondom status.

 

Labour MP Neil Coyle said: “It’s not enough just to say he pays British tax — that’s the minimum anyone expects of a candidate for mayor.

 

“Londoners will want to be assured that the Conservative candidate is not using any loopholes to gain an unfair advantage.”

 

In addition to the Swiss fund, it emerged in 2012 that Mr Goldsmith also benefits from an offshore property ownership loophole that was criticised by Chancellor George Osborne.

 

The MP has also registered a £7 million Devon estate with an offshore holding company based in the Cayman Islands — which allows buyers to avoid stamp duty.

 

Mr Coyle added: “Most Londoners are happy to buy their home without the aid of offshore trusts. Why does Zac Goldsmith have to use one?”

 

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