You’d be stupid not to try to cut your tax bill, says Bono: U2 frontman branded ‘hypocritical’ in light of his ‘anti-austerity posturing’

Singer revealed he bases some business ventures in the Netherlands

Tax rates in the European country far lower than in his native Ireland

Bono said ‘smart people’ were ‘just be sensible’ about ‘the way we’re taxed’

Sunday Times Rich List ranked U2 as the country’s third richest musicians

He has carefully crafted an image of himself as a moral crusader, fighting for the world’s poor against those who don’t ‘return wealth to the people’.

But now even Bono has admitted he does his best to reduce his tax bill – and suggested that those who don’t are ‘stupid in business’.

The U2 frontman, 55, has revealed he bases some business ventures in the Netherlands, where tax rates are far lower than in his native Ireland.

This was defended by the group’s guitarist The Edge – real name David Evans, 53 – who said the group often perform abroad so have no need to base their finances in the country.

However, campaigners last night branded Bono ‘hypocritical in light of his anti-poverty posturing’ and accused him of using his campaigning for his own benefit.

Asked about his tax affairs, father-of-four Bono, real name Paul Hewson, said: ‘The smart people that we have working for us are trying to just be sensible about the way we’re taxed. And we pay a fortune in tax, just so people know. We pay a fortune in tax and we’re happy to pay a fortune in tax – people should.

‘Because you’re good at philanthropy, I think, and because I’m an activist, people think you should be stupid in business. I don’t run with that.’ Speaking alongside his bandmate, The Edge told Sky News: ‘So much of our business is outside of Ireland, it’s ridiculous to make a big deal about the fact we operate outside of Ireland. Everything we do is outside of Ireland.’

But Leonie Nimmo, director of campaign Fair Tax Mark, said: ‘Bono’s attitude is particularly hypocritical in light of his anti-poverty posturing. Poor countries lose far more money from tax avoidance than they get in aid every year.

‘If huge amounts of money were not funnelled out of the global South through tax avoidance there wouldn’t be such a need for big fundraising events. But without Live Aid, where would Bono be now?’ The latest Sunday Times Rich List ranked U2 as the country’s third richest musicians, with a collective fortune of £431million. This is up £3million from the previous year’s list, showing the group’s continued earning power.

Bono has previously criticised rich companies in Africa which he said ‘aren’t returning the wealth to the people in any kind of fair measure.’

He added: ‘You can’t have it both ways. You can’t give alms to the poor on one hand and have your hands on their throat on the other.’

It was first reported that U2 had moved some of their business ventures out of their previous Dublin base in 2006.

At the time, Joan Burton, Irish Labour’s then finance spokesman, said: ‘Having listened to Bono on the necessity for the Irish government to give more money to Ireland Aid, of which I approve, I am surprised that U2 are not prepared to contribute to the Exchequer on a fair basis along with the bulk of Irish taxpayers.’

U2 are not the first celebrities to come under scrutiny for their tax affairs. Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood has been criticised for having an offshore tax base, while both Jimmy Carr and Gary Barlow have drawn public anger over their involvement in tax avoidance schemes.

Bono was speaking in Vancouver, Canada yesterday ahead of the band’s first tour in four years.

U2’s last tour, which ended in 2011, saw them play to three million fans and made an estimated £445million.

The latest run of shows sees Bono take to the stage again after his serious bicycle accident in New York last year. He was badly injured, with a broken arm, shoulder and finger and fractured bones in his face.