# Richard Harpin: Wealth Tax Would Devastate UK Businesses

> Entrepreneur Richard Harpin warns wealth tax would devastate UK businesses and cause wealthy exodus.
- Title: Richard Harpin: Wealth Tax Would Devastate UK Businesses
- Summary: Entrepreneur Richard Harpin warns wealth tax would devastate UK businesses and cause wealthy exodus. Richard Harpin says wealth tax would be devastating for…
- Keywords: richard harpin, wealth tax, uk businesses, capital gains tax, home serve, seattle, nfl, moneyweek, Richard, Harpin, Wealth, Tax
- Source: MoneyWeek — https://moneyweek.com/personal-finance/tax/richard-harpin-moneyweek-talks
- Published: 2026-10-14T04:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: richard harpin, wealth tax, uk businesses, capital gains tax, home serve, seattle, nfl, moneyweek
## Richard Harpin warns
Entrepreneur Richard Harpin says wealth tax would be devastating for british business.

> We've clearly seen people have already left the uk, and we don't want to see more people leave.
## Prime minister Andy Burnham
Prime minister Andy Burnham reportedly wants capital gains tax rates closer to income tax rates.
## Wealth tax threat
Self-made billionaire Harpin says wealth tax would be absolutely devastating for british business.

> It's a difficult job as an entrepreneur. Failure is only one step away.
## YouGov poll
Yougov poll shows up to one in ten uk adults considering leaving country due to tax changes.
## Harpin's business story
Harpin started home serve with £50,000 savings in 1992 and faced financial crisis twice.

> We literally saw our life savings go down the drain in the space of six months
## Home serve growth
Home serve grew from one million customers in uk by 2010 to five million globally.
## Home serve sale
Harpin sold home serve for £4.1 billion in 2023.
## Harpin's advice
Harpin says entrepreneurs need incentives to work 24/7 and take risks to grow businesses.

> There's got to be incentives for risk-takers to invest and work 24/7 to make a business successful here in the uk
## Tax policy debate
Over 100 millionaires including gary lineker and brian eno want wealth tax but harpin says billionaires shouldn't pay more tax.

> I don't think they should
## Chancellor's decision
Chancellor john healey reportedly rejected calls to raise cgt to match income tax rates.
## Harpin's book
Harpin published 'how to make a billion in 9 steps' this summer.
## UK business advantage
Harpin says uk remains best place for global businesses despite economic challenges.

> I still believe that there is no better place in the world to run a global business from
## Key takeaway

Richard Harpin says wealth tax would be devastating for UK businesses and cause wealthy exodus.