High Tea & Taxes | 05/01/2009 3:25 pm

Liz Smith Predicts High Taxes May Drive Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John and Sir Michael Caine to Leave UK (Video)

Will we have a British invasion of well-known (top-paid) sensations because of the high taxes in England?

Is taxation driving English citizens to flee their merry kingdom? Watch me on FOX News talk about why I predict top British sensations, including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John and Sir Michael Caine, may be coming to the U.S. of A.

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This is NOTHING new.

The Beatles considered leaving Britain in the 60s because of the outrageous taxes…. the Stones DID.

Just the price you pay, I guess, if you come from that lovely place!

By nanchan u on 05/01/2009 3:40 pm

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These possible relocations to the USA, are not surprising and certainly predictable.

By Patricia Sprofera on 05/01/2009 4:10 pm

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I remember a time when film production companies traveled to England to film to get a tax break. How the times have changed.

By Richard Bassett on 05/01/2009 4:15 pm

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And now we have the added "benefit" of spending a ton of money on insurance when filming… no wonder Canada is so popular!

By nanchan u on 05/01/2009 5:33 pm

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For a short time, movies were being filmed, here, in Boston and throughout Massachusetts as we were providing a tax break. Boston was going to be called Hollywood East. Of course, this did not last when the state realized that they were actually losing money.

By Richard Bassett on 05/01/2009 6:50 pm

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The Parliament within the last few weeks raised the national income tax rate on the highest paid to 50%. I think the number begins at around $250,000 (dollars) so if your income was $250,000, the national tax is $125,000. And that is the beginning tax obligation … does not account for any other taxes imposed by county governments.

Needless to say, 50% is too much. I believe in America, the highest rate is being increased to 38% just for federal taxes.

By Bonnie Oliver on 05/01/2009 4:24 pm

Let us know when Gerard Butler moves over permanently. My daughters and all the females in my family are extreme fans.

By Laura Ward on 05/01/2009 10:07 pm

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Bonnie, the 50% tax rate applies to earnings over £150,000 pa. It certainly doesn’t mean if you earn £150,000 you have to hand over half to the taxman. Neither do counties (nor local authorities) levy tax - I don’t think they’re empowered to do so in law.

By Sylvia W on 05/02/2009 12:32 am

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I honestly do not see them coming to the USA. Our taxes are going to take a HUGE jump in the next couple of years - they will have to in order to pay for everything.

By canuck canuck on 05/03/2009 12:24 am

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Elton John has long owned 2nd, 3rd, etc. homes in the U.S…He has mantained a home in Buckhead (Atlanta, Ga.) for 18 years!

By Melanie Waldrop on 05/03/2009 7:13 am

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Ah, socialism…..you just gotta love it! Spreading the wealth and losing the high wage earners. Robbing Peter to pay Paul. But what happens when Peter is nonexistent?

People will always try to find a way to protect their hard earned wealth.

By deber B on 05/04/2009 7:10 am