George Osborne Quotes

Democrats must rally behind a low-rate, broad-based tax system that is fair, simple and efficient.

I think we should have basically the same tax policy that Germany, Japan, the U.K., everybody else has, which is a tax rate in the mid-20s and no loopholes. Zero. The U.S. has the most antiquated tax system. And that means some people are going to pay more taxes, and some people are going to pay less.

Wealthy people don't even pay taxes. But everybody must pay taxes.

And it would be fair. Everyone will pay the same tax and it will eliminate tax cheaters and corporate shenanigans.

To me, there are four F's in a good tax system: it ought to be flatter, fairer, finite and family-friendly.

It's really a question of fairness and what kind of country we're going to live in. There are 22,000 people making over $1 million. They're paying an effective tax rate in the teens. As Warren Buffett said, he pays less in taxes effectively than his secretary does. That's not right.

Everybody gets ticked off about GE paying no taxes. Look, we have a complicated, convoluted tax system. And only big corporations and wealthy individuals like Warren Buffett can take advantage of it. We need to simplify and flatten the code, get rid of all the loopholes.

The rich aren't like us—they pay less taxes.

Only the little people pay taxes.

Since the lobbyists and lawyers for the rich are so good at these things, I think they can avoid any increased tax rate so I would have a minimum tax.

We never tell countries that they should have a particular number in terms of a tax number, you know, if countries can make do with whatever average tax they have. The question is, do they apply it to everybody? Or do they give sweetheart deals to some companies?

Almost no one raises the real issue of tax avoidance, right? And of the rich just not paying their fair share.

I don't know why anyone would prefer a more complicated tax code instead of a simpler one.

If corporations and rich people who made fortunes out of us during the boom are not paying their fair share then reform the tax system and close down the tax havens.

I'm against an income tax because all the rich people hire lawyers and accountants to be sure that they don't pay income tax.

President Obama has announced a task force to review the tax codes. He's concerned there are too many loopholes and too many people manipulating the system to avoid paying taxes. And that's just in his administration.

I don't want to increase taxes, I just want taxes to be paid honestly.

Mitt Romney is coming under fire because even though he is a multimillionaire, he only paid 15 percent in taxes. That's not a tax, that's barely a tip.

I think you need to have a tax system that basically is flat, fair and simple. And - that you can put on a post card. I mean, even Timothy Geithner could do this one and get it on time.

Corporate tax dodging impacts us across generations and over time. It is corrosive. It is unethical. It is unsustainable.

I think it's a little unfair for people to say you're not paying your fair share of taxes. I'm paying what I'm supposed to pay. Change the law, and I'll pay what I'm supposed to pay.

When there is an income tax, the just man will pay more and the unjust less on the same amount of income.

We can fight over what the taxation levels should be, but the tax system should be very, very simple and not distortionary.

Think what a revolution it will be if we manage to get everyone to pay their taxes.

We had 90 percent rates, but nobody paid them. And so you had all these exemptions, exclusions, shelters, all this kind of stuff. And that's why most Americans are saying, 'Look, let's just be honest. Let's have lower rates, but everybody pays them.'