I'm not for a second saying that anyone is likely to go round to the tax office (if they can find one that's still open) and say, "I'd like to make a donation, do you take cash?" ostentatiously brandishing a wodge of notes. However, I do think that, as a human, I have an obligation to make the moral choice where I know what's happening is wrong.
Accountants and Financial Advisors are paid to help you manage your money. Except it seems that a lot of the time they're helping people hang on to as much money as possible (beyond what is needed for a decent, nay luxurious, lifestyle) no matter the moral consequences. That being the case, if you are self-employed, whether you are a comedian, or a builder, or whatever, you should go to your accountant and say, "I need help to sort out my finances and tax. Please note that I intend to pay what I should pay according to the normal rules. Do not look for loopholes to get me out of paying tax, I am a citizen of this country and I have a duty to maintain it along with the rest of the population." If you think the idea of someone saying that (ok, maybe not quite in those pompous words, but you get the gist) is totally outlandish then I'm disappointed. Integrity still exists and those people with it will look to do their bit and play their part in the world, financially or otherwise. Morality is something we can all take into account in our day to day dealings and I don't mean religion, just good old fashioned morals and consideration.
Even if a person didn't do this, is it possible that they wouldn't notice that they were paying much less tax that they should? If so then they're not showing proper responsibility for their own affairs. If not then again we have someone who is aware of what is going on, they are surely aware of what sort of tax they should be paying, and therefore again are making a poor moral choice. Is this the kind of person we think we all are? Really? Maybe integrity only exists for the working class....
