Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is under mounting pressure to dismiss his deputy Richard Tice over allegations that his company failed to pay tens of thousands of pounds in tax on dividends. The Sunday Times reported that Tice received at least £91,000 in excess payments due to the non-payment of tax on dividends paid to him and his offshore trust.
Labour Treasury minister Torsten Bell said: “We already knew Richard Tice aggressively avoided tax. Now we’re told his company just plain failed to pay tax that was legally due.” Tax expert Dan Neidle added that Tice’s company “broke the law”, stating that the law required the real estate investment trust Quidnet Reit to pay tax on dividends immediately, rather than waiting up to 21 months.
Despite the allegations, Farage has stood by Tice. Party spokesman Zia Yusuf defended him on Sunday, calling the claims a “non-story” and arguing that any underpaid tax by the company would have been overpaid by Tice personally. Tice himself dismissed the allegations as a “smear” and highlighted Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey’s past role in the Post Office scandal.
The row has echoes of the scandal that forced Angela Rayner to resign as deputy prime minister over unpaid stamp duty. However, Reform has not committed to any investigation into Tice’s tax affairs.
