Here's the agreement between Smartpay and a contractor, and the agreement between Smartpay and a recruitment agency.
Spot the difference:
Spot the difference:
October 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Here's the agreement between Smartpay and a contractor, and the agreement between Smartpay and a recruitment agency.
Spot the difference:
Spot the difference:
But we worked out why one of them has a "shadow": to trick people.
We have the evidence.
Barrowman's "Smartpay" company ran a tax avoidance scheme. Contractors would work for Smartpay, and Smartpay would then supply their services to recruitment agencies.
We have the evidence.
Barrowman's "Smartpay" company ran a tax avoidance scheme. Contractors would work for Smartpay, and Smartpay would then supply their services to recruitment agencies.
October 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM
But we worked out why one of them has a "shadow": to trick people.
We have the evidence.
Barrowman's "Smartpay" company ran a tax avoidance scheme. Contractors would work for Smartpay, and Smartpay would then supply their services to recruitment agencies.
We have the evidence.
Barrowman's "Smartpay" company ran a tax avoidance scheme. Contractors would work for Smartpay, and Smartpay would then supply their services to recruitment agencies.
Am I being unfair? Could this just have been an accidental one-off?
Nope, Smartpay Ltd *admitted* doing this in a tax tribunal. This comes very close to an admission of fraud.
(Smartpay is the Respondent here)
Nope, Smartpay Ltd *admitted* doing this in a tax tribunal. This comes very close to an admission of fraud.
(Smartpay is the Respondent here)
October 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Am I being unfair? Could this just have been an accidental one-off?
Nope, Smartpay Ltd *admitted* doing this in a tax tribunal. This comes very close to an admission of fraud.
(Smartpay is the Respondent here)
Nope, Smartpay Ltd *admitted* doing this in a tax tribunal. This comes very close to an admission of fraud.
(Smartpay is the Respondent here)
The contractor was signing up with an Isle of Man company, Smartpay Ltd.
The recruitment company insisted on a pukka UK company - so they were presented with the UK Smartpay Ltd. They were tricked into thinking this was an onshore business. It wasn't.
The recruitment company insisted on a pukka UK company - so they were presented with the UK Smartpay Ltd. They were tricked into thinking this was an onshore business. It wasn't.
October 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The contractor was signing up with an Isle of Man company, Smartpay Ltd.
The recruitment company insisted on a pukka UK company - so they were presented with the UK Smartpay Ltd. They were tricked into thinking this was an onshore business. It wasn't.
The recruitment company insisted on a pukka UK company - so they were presented with the UK Smartpay Ltd. They were tricked into thinking this was an onshore business. It wasn't.
Our full investigation into PPE Medpro, Smartpay Ltd and Barrowman's "shadow companies" is here: taxpolicy.org.uk/2024/03/04/b...
October 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Our full investigation into PPE Medpro, Smartpay Ltd and Barrowman's "shadow companies" is here: taxpolicy.org.uk/2024/03/04/b...
SmartPay is an efficient system. When orders are received at a depot and no issues are identified, SmartPay automatically pays the contractor within 15 days. If Trump replaces this system, it's assured contractors won't get paid on time. That will put many of them out of business.
April 22, 2025 at 10:24 AM
SmartPay is an efficient system. When orders are received at a depot and no issues are identified, SmartPay automatically pays the contractor within 15 days. If Trump replaces this system, it's assured contractors won't get paid on time. That will put many of them out of business.
ProPublica previously revealed the GSA was eyeing the startup to remake the $700B federal SmartPay credit card program.
Senior GSA officials met with the firm's execs at least four times before publicly opening up a SmartPay contract opportunity.
Senior GSA officials met with the firm's execs at least four times before publicly opening up a SmartPay contract opportunity.
Trump Team Eyes Politically Connected Startup to Overhaul $700 Billion Government Payments Program
A little-known firm with investors linked to JD Vance, Elon Musk and Trump could get a piece of the federal expense card system — and its hundreds of millions in fees. “This goes against all the…
www.propublica.org
May 11, 2025 at 11:30 PM
ProPublica previously revealed the GSA was eyeing the startup to remake the $700B federal SmartPay credit card program.
Senior GSA officials met with the firm's execs at least four times before publicly opening up a SmartPay contract opportunity.
Senior GSA officials met with the firm's execs at least four times before publicly opening up a SmartPay contract opportunity.
i met my wife on the cumberland farms smartpay rewards program app
September 13, 2023 at 8:54 PM
i met my wife on the cumberland farms smartpay rewards program app
“While administration officials insist that SmartPay is wasteful, both Republican and Democratic budget experts say that’s wrong, according to [ProPublica]. ‘SmartPay is the lifeblood of the government …’” 2/3
April 22, 2025 at 11:29 AM
“While administration officials insist that SmartPay is wasteful, both Republican and Democratic budget experts say that’s wrong, according to [ProPublica]. ‘SmartPay is the lifeblood of the government …’” 2/3
TPM calls our article about GSA/Trump admin eyeing fintech startup Ramp for the fed’s smartpay program: “One of the most important stories in some time”
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/rampi...
Story: www.propublica.org/article/trum...
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/rampi...
Story: www.propublica.org/article/trum...
April 20, 2025 at 7:50 PM
TPM calls our article about GSA/Trump admin eyeing fintech startup Ramp for the fed’s smartpay program: “One of the most important stories in some time”
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/rampi...
Story: www.propublica.org/article/trum...
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/rampi...
Story: www.propublica.org/article/trum...
the cumby's employees need to be less pushy about the smartpay rewards program. i've told them so many times: i'm not worthy and i don't deserve big savings
February 26, 2026 at 10:26 PM
the cumby's employees need to be less pushy about the smartpay rewards program. i've told them so many times: i'm not worthy and i don't deserve big savings
DOGE is either incompetent or intentionally misleading the public. Maybe, they've never worked in a large company with corporate travel cards
GAO regularly audits GSA's Smartpay program, a few findings. GSA Smartpay makes a net ~500 million, i.e. 'reward points' go to govt, not individuals
GAO regularly audits GSA's Smartpay program, a few findings. GSA Smartpay makes a net ~500 million, i.e. 'reward points' go to govt, not individuals
February 27, 2025 at 2:21 AM
DOGE is either incompetent or intentionally misleading the public. Maybe, they've never worked in a large company with corporate travel cards
GAO regularly audits GSA's Smartpay program, a few findings. GSA Smartpay makes a net ~500 million, i.e. 'reward points' go to govt, not individuals
GAO regularly audits GSA's Smartpay program, a few findings. GSA Smartpay makes a net ~500 million, i.e. 'reward points' go to govt, not individuals
Trump Team Eyes Politically Connected Startup to Overhaul $700 Billion Government Payments Program
First, Elon shuts down SmartPay cards.
Then Peter Thiel swoops in to take over the business.
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
First, Elon shuts down SmartPay cards.
Then Peter Thiel swoops in to take over the business.
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Trump Team Eyes Politically Connected Startup to Overhaul $700 Billion Government Payments Program
A little-known firm with investors linked to JD Vance, Elon Musk and Trump could get a piece of the federal expense card system — and its hundreds of millions in fees. “This goes against all the norma...
www.propublica.org
April 17, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Trump Team Eyes Politically Connected Startup to Overhaul $700 Billion Government Payments Program
First, Elon shuts down SmartPay cards.
Then Peter Thiel swoops in to take over the business.
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
First, Elon shuts down SmartPay cards.
Then Peter Thiel swoops in to take over the business.
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
The linked white paper from the firm "Ramp" is just incoherent if you know anything about federal budgets or ops. The entire SmartPay card program is $35B so their potential savings numbers imply we'll start distributing SS checks or pay Lockheed by cc, or that they are totally clueless
April 18, 2025 at 1:01 AM
The linked white paper from the firm "Ramp" is just incoherent if you know anything about federal budgets or ops. The entire SmartPay card program is $35B so their potential savings numbers imply we'll start distributing SS checks or pay Lockheed by cc, or that they are totally clueless
The article literally says “all GSA SmartPay Travel and Purchase Cards”. What are you talking about?
February 20, 2025 at 8:48 PM
The article literally says “all GSA SmartPay Travel and Purchase Cards”. What are you talking about?
i truly pity people who aren't signed up for the cumberland farms smartpay rewards program
September 13, 2023 at 8:54 PM
i truly pity people who aren't signed up for the cumberland farms smartpay rewards program
Ramp seems to believe -- or wants you to believe -- that most federal spending goes out via the "SmartPay" credit cards. Not true, it's about $35B total, just about 2% of federal spending, mostly small dollar transactions (buying office supplies, paying air fare for travel)
April 18, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Ramp seems to believe -- or wants you to believe -- that most federal spending goes out via the "SmartPay" credit cards. Not true, it's about $35B total, just about 2% of federal spending, mostly small dollar transactions (buying office supplies, paying air fare for travel)
"Trump and Musk are looking to hand some or all of the government’s $700 billion internal expense card program (SmartPay) over to [Peter Thiel-backed start up] Ramp."
EXCLUSIVE: Following up on ProPublica piece on Thiel startup RAMP hunting for the motherlode govt payments contract, as of yesterday a DOGEr & Ramp employee, Roland Shen, is now inside Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service, the US Govt's central payments hub. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/rampi...
Rampin’ Up, Baby! That Thiel Start Up Hunting the Motherlode Contract is Inside Treasury
One of the most important stories in some time came out two...
talkingpointsmemo.com
April 19, 2025 at 5:38 PM
"Trump and Musk are looking to hand some or all of the government’s $700 billion internal expense card program (SmartPay) over to [Peter Thiel-backed start up] Ramp."
How would re-doing SmartPay cards catch fraud when a pharmacy supplies Medicare patient expensive brand med when generic is available, which really is a claim they make???
The pharmacy gets its payment in multiple steps with intermediaries, but they say it'd be caught point-of-sale, huh?
The pharmacy gets its payment in multiple steps with intermediaries, but they say it'd be caught point-of-sale, huh?
April 18, 2025 at 12:50 AM
How would re-doing SmartPay cards catch fraud when a pharmacy supplies Medicare patient expensive brand med when generic is available, which really is a claim they make???
The pharmacy gets its payment in multiple steps with intermediaries, but they say it'd be caught point-of-sale, huh?
The pharmacy gets its payment in multiple steps with intermediaries, but they say it'd be caught point-of-sale, huh?
April 17: “ProPublica reported that the [Trump] administration is looking to replace the federal government’s $700 billion internal expense card program, known as SmartPay, with a contract awarded to the private company Ramp. Ramp is backed by investment firms tied to Trump and Musk.” 1/3
April 22, 2025 at 11:27 AM
April 17: “ProPublica reported that the [Trump] administration is looking to replace the federal government’s $700 billion internal expense card program, known as SmartPay, with a contract awarded to the private company Ramp. Ramp is backed by investment firms tied to Trump and Musk.” 1/3
There's not even meaningful possibility of SmartPay travel card fraud. You book an approved hotel at an approved rate, book an approved flight through the approved service, etc., and government pays the hotel and airline for those approved rates. Anything extra, the cardholder personally pays.
February 20, 2025 at 5:38 PM
There's not even meaningful possibility of SmartPay travel card fraud. You book an approved hotel at an approved rate, book an approved flight through the approved service, etc., and government pays the hotel and airline for those approved rates. Anything extra, the cardholder personally pays.
In addition to the Emoluments Clause in the Constitution, the GSA has rules for the acceptance of gifts.
training.smartpay.gsa.gov/training_pur...
training.smartpay.gsa.gov/training_pur...
Lesson 10: Policies Relating to Gifts
Guidance on federal policies about gifts that relate to the GSA SmartPay purchase program.
training.smartpay.gsa.gov
May 12, 2025 at 8:57 PM
In addition to the Emoluments Clause in the Constitution, the GSA has rules for the acceptance of gifts.
training.smartpay.gsa.gov/training_pur...
training.smartpay.gsa.gov/training_pur...
Ramp, an AI fintech startup with no previous federal contracts, may get a piece of the government’s $700 billion internal expense card program, known as SmartPay.
Via @propublica.org
Via @propublica.org
Little-Known Tech Startup May Soon Make Millions Off Federal Expense Card System
Ramp, a firm with investors linked to JD Vance, Elon Musk and Trump, may run a charge card program for federal workers…
truthout.org
April 17, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Ramp, an AI fintech startup with no previous federal contracts, may get a piece of the government’s $700 billion internal expense card program, known as SmartPay.
Via @propublica.org
Via @propublica.org
corporate still has a lot of control over the franchisees' policies, it doesn't seem to be a threat to sue but to terminate the GSA SmartPay partnership
February 12, 2026 at 8:25 PM
corporate still has a lot of control over the franchisees' policies, it doesn't seem to be a threat to sue but to terminate the GSA SmartPay partnership