Clinton's Irish Tax Dodge?

NewsMax.com ^ | Sunday July 13, 2003; 3:03 p.m. EDT | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[Jean S]

Ex-president Bill Clinton recently told an American audience that he loves to pay taxes, explaining, "I must be the only person in America that every time I pay the maximum tax rates, every time I sign that tax form, I smile."

So why is Mr. Clinton buying a home in the notorious tax haven of Ireland?

Ostensibly the former first tax lover purchased his $1.4 million dollar bachelor pad in the Dublin suburbs because he loves to play golf.

The property reportedly comes with two lifetime memberships in the adjacent Kildare Hotel and Country Club, said to be the most appealing aspect of the deal for the ex-president.

But taking up part time residence in Ireland could have other advantages, especially for someone in the former first duffer's tax bracket.

According to London's Sunday Times, Ireland has long been known as "a haven for artists, painters, writers and composers from all over the world who live in the country without paying tax on their artistic earnings. Last year 2,600 'artists' were registered in the republic, two-thirds were foreigners."

Ireland's writers tax exemption could give Mr. Clinton a little added incentive to complete his $12 million memoir as he gazes upon the Irish links from his apartment window.

While we can't say for sure that Mr. Clinton would qualify, the phenomenon of foreigners fleeing the taxman to move the Emerald Isle is widespread and growing.

"Ireland's remittance basis offers significant potential savings for both the company and the expatriates through careful structuring of the employment contract and personal finances," reports Anne D'Arcy, of the accounting giant KPMG.

And real estate seems to be a favorite investment for rich foreign celebs. "Musicians who play here and actors who film here often buy Irish property," noted USA Today earlier this year.

"[With] the tax breaks Ireland gives native and foreign residents who are actors, musicians or artists, and it's easy to understand why [Dublin] glitters with glitterati," the paper added.

Another added benefit for Mr. Clinton: wayward celebs whose antics might result in headlines back home seem to be able to escape notice in Ireland. "In Dublin, stars can party away from prying eyes. That's one reason so many are eager to come here," USA Today explained.

"Mel Gibson is among the global icons spotted in Ireland. So, too, is privacy-loving Robert De Niro," the paper noted. "Celebs, who jet in and out with the frequency of Irish rain showers, adore the fun-loving locals and dearth of stalker paparazzi."

MSNBC.com hinted at another reason why Mr. Clinton might appreciate the privacy that his Irish abode will afford, noting that the move indicated "he was moving ahead with plans to carve out a post-presidential life separate from that of his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton."

[goodnesswins]

"Another added benefit for Mr. Clinton: wayward celebs whose antics might result in headlines back home seem to be able to escape notice in Ireland. "In Dublin, stars can party away from prying eyes. That's one reason so many are eager to come here," USA Today explained.

HaHaHaHa.....I'd say THAT'S about to change....

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[nickcarraway]

And when Clinton was president he said that Ireland was a bunch of drunks and brawlers.

[Devlin]

*sigh* As if hundreds of years of english genocide weren't enough. If there were ever any doubt, "The luck of the Irish" was meant to be sarcasm.

[mystery-ak]

.....or it could be that no US golf country club wants him.....but, he's probably dodging taxes and looking for young Irish lassies to victimize.

[Free_at_last_-2001]

...every time I sign that tax form, I smile. - Yea I bet you do!

[Bob]

Yeah, right. Give me a break.

He loves to pay taxes so much that he and Hellary deducted donations of his used underwear to charity.

[Paul Atreides]

Good! I only wish that he would take his entire stinking white trash family with him and never come back.

[proudofthesouth]

I wonder what the laws are in Ireland regarding rape? Do people over there have to register as sex offenders?

[toothless]

Hey, those are my kind of people.

[Paul Atreides]

That should be music to his lawyers's ears: he won't pay them but he loves paying taxes.

[Sabatier]

"he was moving ahead with plans to carve out a post-presidential life separate from that of his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton."

Bogus alert. The minute Hillary becomes President, Bill will be back in the White House beside her like rats on cheddar.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Sure he does, he is doing his part to offset the bill for his Secret Service detail, his pension, the pension of his wife, his expenses for his office, etc. ;)

[Savage Beast]

"And when Clinton was president he said that Ireland was a bunch of drunks and brawlers."

Maybe he meant it as a compliment.

[nothingnew]

"I must be the only person in America that every time I pay the maximum tax rates, every time I sign that tax form, I smile."

Ludicrous.....unless every April 15th he's got some skank under his desk polishing his knob.

FMCDH

[proxy_user]

I hate to have to say it, but the author of this article is less than knowledgable. The citizens of most countries pay income tax based on their country of residence. U.S. citizen pay taxes based on their citizenship.

Can anyone really see Clinton renouncing his US citizensip? However sleazy he may be, he is a former president and the husband of a sitting senator.

[bandleader]

As Rush has pointed out many times,BeelzeBubba LOVES to BRAG on himself that he is in the top 1%!!!!!!!!!!!!

[optik_b]

Clinton is really popular in Ireland, they love him for helping to settle the situation in Northern Ireland. I wouldn't say Ireland is a "notorious tax haven" since they have a pretty high tax rate. The article makes it sound like the Cayman Islands.

[Feiny]

Damn him....I was planning on moving there!!!!