Is tax avoidance a problem in the UK?

With recent revelations detailing the tax avoidance methods of the super-rich, how big of a problem is it in the UK?

Documents obtained by investigative journalists detailing the offshore investments of the super-rich called the ‘Paradise Papers’ revealed the identities of more than 120,000 individuals and companies who moved tens of millions of pounds into offshore tax havens.
The fresh dump of information identified more than 100 UK millionaires whose tax avoidance schemes were administered by Appleby, the law firm at the centre of the Paradise Papers leak.The tax avoidance schemes involve individuals and companies claiming to no longer own property, cash and investments to prevent taxation by HMRC.
The 13.4 million records detail the financial dealings of politicians, celebrities, corporate giants and business leaders, many of whom are based in the UK.
Despite tax avoidance being legal method, we asked the public whether they think it is a problem that impacts on the UK economy.

Ellen Fajeyisan, 35, Trainee Accountant

I think it’s a bigger problem than things like benefit fraud. It’s good when these things come out because it makes people turn their attention, whereas the media in the past has tried to encourage us to think about other things like immigration or benefits.

Mr Hawkins, 70, Relief Manager

From what’s being reported in the press recently it is beginning to become quite a big problem I think. If these people had their money in this country, they would have to pay tax on it, and the government would have more money to spend on NHS, schools etc.

James Roberts, 29, Student

Oh yeah, it definitely is. I mean these big companies make a lot of money and then they are findings ways to not pay money back into the economy they are supposed to be a part of. It’s wrong considering they are some of the bigger business’ that do it.

Michelle Walton, 50, Banker

I do think it’s a problem. I think it’s big brands and wealthy entrepreneurs. Maybe not full tax avoidance, not illegally. I think so [more should be done to stop tax avoidance], but it is difficult to police. I think it’s the big corporations who are allowed to avoid the tax.

Michael Sexton, 20, Student

It’s massive. It’s the bigger people ain’t it. The little guys have to pay all the tax, and then you get the bigger corporations that think that they can avoid it and that they are better than the working class. The NHS is struggling because of it.