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BBC David Dimbleby Jeremy Paxman

Jeremy Paxman, Gavin Esler and other BBC presenters told salaries could be slashed by a quarter

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By John Glenday, Reporter

January 20, 2014 | 2 min read

The BBC has informed some of its most well-known presenters; including Jeremy Paxman, Fiona Bruce and David Dimbleby, that they face seeing their pay packets being slashed by a quarter as part of a tax avoidance clampdown.

The pay cuts would take place as part of an initiative by the broadcaster to migrate staff over from expensive freelance contracts to be placed on the payroll directly, although this will also entitle staff to holiday pay and pension contributions.

Criticism of the system from MPs and the public has seen the BBC target around 100 staff at the tail end of last year, instructing them to accept reductions of between 13 and 25 per cent dependent upon what entitlements they wish to claim.

Tax specialists Deloitte revealed in 2012 that the Corporation paid out over £50k a year to 96 presenters, the bulk of whom were newsreaders or current affairs presenters.

Commenting on the moves a BBC spokesperson said: “A spokesman for the Corporation said: “If an individual is deemed employed this simply means that tax, National Insurance and any benefit deductions such as pension will be made by the BBC, rather than the personal service company, and will be deducted from gross pay as it is for all employees.”

BBC David Dimbleby Jeremy Paxman

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