Sajid Javid dodges questions over previous tax affairs at campaign launch
Sajid Javid declined repeatedly to get into specifics about where he has previously paid tax.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sajid Javid, the former chancellor and health secretary bidding to become Conservative leader, has refused to give details about which jurisdictions he has previously paid taxes in.
Mr Javid, who is bidding to replace Boris Johnson in a crowded field of Tory candidates, insisted that he had always been “transparent” with the tax authorities.
In a campaign launch in central London on Monday, the Bromsgrove MP revealed plans to woo Tory colleagues and grassroots activists with a promise of tax cuts and an ambitious house-building programme as he said that Conservatives were facing a “wake up and smell the coffee” moment.
But questions about his former tax arrangements overshadowed part of the launch, with Mr Javid declining repeatedly to get into specifics about where he has previously paid tax.
Mr Javid had previously disclosed that for six years while working as an international banker and before entering politics he was non-domiciled for tax purposes.
But under questioning from reporters, he refused to give details of where he had been domiciled for tax purposes.
“I believe I’ve been open and transparent about this. I’ve set out before this campaign that, because… before politics my job was an international job, I travelled a lot,” he said.
“I lived in the (United) States, I lived in the UK, I lived in Singapore, I was tax resident in different countries, as part of my job, it had an impact on my statuses. That’s not unusual.
“I had a tax adviser, accountants that would help me with my international taxes, I moved around a lot.
“And the test for me was to make sure that whatever you do, when it comes to your taxes, your personal tax affairs, that is always correct, proper, within all the rules, and that was met at all times.
“So I am perfectly happy about that. And I am certain that I’ve never had an issue with HMRC. I’ve never had a tax investigation. I’ve always been transparent, fully transparent, with the tax authorities.”
Asked which countries he had been domiciled in for tax purposes, Sajid Javid said: “I’ve moved to different jurisdictions, I’ve lived in different jurisdictions and I’ve been really clear about the reasons for that, in terms of my international travel.
“I’m not getting into any more detail (on) my personal tax affairs that were to do with a time that I was not in public life.
“I haven’t been non-domiciled in all my time in public life, and that’s where I would leave it.”