Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Rishi Sunak admits having US green card while chancellor - as his wife says she will now pay tax in the UK

Rishi Sunak admits having US green card while chancellor - as his wife says she will now pay tax in the UK

Sky News reported earlier that the chancellor and his wife Akshata Murty held US green cards - permitting him residence in the country - until more than a year into his time at 11 Downing Street.

Rishi Sunak has admitted holding a US green card while chancellor, as his wife has said she will now pay UK tax on her worldwide income.

It follows a Sky News report earlier that the chancellor and his wife Akshata Murty held US green cards - permitting him residence in the country - until more than a year into his time at 11 Downing Street.

Mr Sunak's spokeswoman confirmed the report, saying he had held a green card while chancellor until around October, having become chancellor in February 2020.

Green card holders must pay US tax on their worldwide income and pledge that the US is their forever home.

"Rishi Sunak had a green card when he lived and worked in the US," the spokeswoman said.
Advertisement

"Under US law, you are not presumed to be a US resident just by dint of holding a green card. Furthermore, from a US immigration perspective, it is presumed that permanent resident status is automatically abandoned after prolonged absences from the US.

Rishi Sunak in Washington last October.


"At the same time, one is required to file US tax returns. Rishi Sunak followed all guidance and continued to file US tax returns, but specifically as a non-resident, in full compliance with the law.

"As required under US law and as advised, he continued to use his green card for travel purposes. Upon his first trip to the US in a government capacity as chancellor, he discussed the appropriate course of action with the US authorities. At that point it was considered best to return his green card, which he did immediately.

"All laws and rules have been followed and full taxes have been paid where required in the duration he held his green card."

However, the US Department of Homeland Security website states: "A green card holder is a permanent resident that has been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis."

'I will now pay UK tax'


On Friday evening, Ms Murty released a statement saying she will now pay taxes in the UK and she does not wish her tax status "to be a distraction for my husband".

She said: "Since arriving in the UK, I have been made to feel more welcome than I ever could have imagined, in both London and our home in North Yorkshire. This is a wonderful country.

"In recent days, people have asked questions about my tax arrangements: to be clear, I have paid tax in this country on my UK income and international tax on my international income.

"This arrangement is entirely legal and how many non-domiciled people are taxed in the UK. But it has become clear that many do not feel it is compatible with my husband's role as chancellor. I understand and appreciate the British sense of fairness and I do not wish my tax status to be a distraction for my husband or to affect my family.

"For this reason, I will no longer be claiming the remittance basis for tax. This means I will now pay UK tax on an arising basis on all my worldwide income, including dividends and capital gains, wherever in the world that income arises. I do this because I want to, not because the rules require me to. These new arrangements will begin immediately and will also be applied to the tax year just finished."

Mr Sunak's household arrangements have been in the spotlight this week after it was revealed that his multi-millionaire wife had "non-dom" status, reducing her tax bill.

Pressure has been building on the chancellor since a poorly-received spring statement last month that critics said did too little to address the cost of living crisis - and polls suggest his popularity is plummeting among voters.

Then came a revelation about his £100,000 donation to his old boarding school, Winchester, adding to the focus on his personal wealth and that of his multi-millionaire wife.

Sunak is doing an 'absolutely astounding job'


Prime Minister Boris Johnson had earlier insisted that Rishi Sunak had done "absolutely everything" required after it was reported he held a US green card for a period while chancellor.

He told a Downing Street press conference: "As I understand it the chancellor has done absolutely everything he was required to do."

Mr Johnson also denied that Number 10 has been briefing against Mr Sunak over his wife's non-dom status.

Boris Johnson said Rishi Sunak is doing an 'outstanding job' as chancellor


"If there are such briefings they are not coming from us in Number 10 and heaven knows where they are coming from," the prime minister told a Downing Street news conference.

"I think that Rishi is doing an absolutely outstanding job."

However, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that the chancellor must "come clean" about his family's tax affairs following revelations about his wife's tax-reducing non-domiciled status.

Chancellor needs to 'come clean'


Speaking at the launch of his party's local election campaign in Barnet, north London, Sir Keir said: "What the chancellor needs to do is to just come clean.

"If the chancellor wants to make the political argument to the country that he's got no alternative to put taxes up at the very time when people are really struggling, prices are up, inflation is up.

"If the chancellor's family, at the same time, are using schemes to reduce their own household tax, then the public are entitled to know about that."

He added: "At the moment, it looks to me very much like one rule for them and another rule for everybody else".

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Reports in Gaza: 5 dead from the impact of aid packages dropped by the USA
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
China Criticizes US for Vetoing UN Ceasefire Resolution in Gaza
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
The U.S. vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, instead proposing its own six-week ceasefire plan contingent upon the release of all hostages held by Hamas
Prince William Urges End to Gaza Conflict
Saudi Arabia ranks first in UN index for e-government services in MENA
Israel has gone ‘beyond self-defence’ in Gaza, says Labour’s Streeting
EU Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza Conflict
Israel Records 20% Drop In GDP, War In Gaza Is The Reason
Saudi Arabia's FDI Inflows Grow with New International Standards
Venture Capitals Power Up Across MENA Region
Saudi Arabia Introduces Terms for 30-Year Income Tax Exemption for Multinational Companies
Saudi FM: Establishing Palestinian state is only pathway for Mideast stability
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
Elon Musk's Starlink Gets License For Israel, Parts Of Gaza
Influencers Exploit X Platform for Profit Amidst Israel-Gaza Conflict
PM Modi Announces Opening Of New CBSE Office In Dubai
International Criminal Court's Chief "Deeply Concerned" By Rafah Bombing
January Funding for MENA Startups Totals $86.5 Million
Saudi Arabia accelerates digital economy growth through Nvidia partnership
Indian female military officers commend Saudi Arabia's progress and women's empowerment
Israel unveils tunnels underneath Gaza City headquarters of UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Israel deploys new military AI in Gaza war
Egypt threatens to suspend key peace treaty if Israel pushes into Gaza border town, officials say
Israel Utilizes AI Military Technology in Gaza Conflict
Saudi Arabia Warns Of A "Humanitarian Catastrophe" If Israel Moves On Rafah
China Warns Iran to Halt Houthi Attacks or Damage Trade Ties
US University To Shut Qatar Campus Due To "Heightened Mideast Instability"
Iran-backed hackers interrupt UAE TV streaming services with deepfake news
Facebook and Instagram Ban Iran's Supreme Leader
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken: The Israelis underwent dehumanization on 7.10, this does not give them the right to do this to others.
Defense Technology Showcase Held in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports rise 2.5% to $6bn in November 2023: GASTAT
UK Bans Misleading "Zero Emissions" Claims for Electric Cars
Gaza's Teen Inventor Sparks Light in Displacement
Netanyahu Rejects Ceasefire Proposal, Insists On Total Victory Over Hamas
Guterres appoints independent UNRWA review panel
Private Sector Employment Hits Record High with Over 11 Million Employees in January
Rolls-Royce Executive Encourages Saudi Women to Tap into Their Inner 'Superhero' for Success in Defense Industry
Saudi Arabia launches National Academy of Vehicles and Cars
Saudi Tourism Minister Reveals Plan for 250,000 New Hotel Rooms by 2030
SAR to more than double eastern network passenger capacity with new trains deal
Saudi Arabia Enhances National Defense with New Partnerships
Saudi Aramco Maintains Arab Light Crude Pricing to Asia for March
NEOM Establishes New York Office to Support Investors
Saudi Wealth Fund Draws in Over $25 Billion Worth of Investments in Three Years, Al-Rumayyan Reveals
ZATCA Cautions Against Scammer Schemes
INTRA Defense Technologies inaugurates drone factory in Riyadh
×