Britain's antiquated "non-domicile" rule is a relic from an age of empire. It involves defining a person's tax residence according to, in essence, their tribal affiliation. It's not the same as nationality or tax residence. As the UK government defines it: "broadly speaking you have your domicile … [Read more...]
Archives for 2014
KPMG offers generous advice that will help tax cheats
One of the most important live initiatives currently in the field of tax justice and international financial transparency is the OECD's Common Reporting Standards (CRS,) a system of automatic information exchange which we have broadly welcomed - though with some gripes - here. Now it turns out … [Read more...]
The Offshore Wrapper: a week in tax justice #30
Fifa ate my hamster There has been much media coverage of the many millions allegedly paid in bribes to secure the rights to hold the 2022 Football World Cup in Qatar. These include evidence of an alleged $1.2m payment from a Qatari company involved in the bid to Jack Warner a Fifa executive … [Read more...]
Links Sep 8
Australia: Calls grow for inquiry into tax avoidance tactics of multinationals The Sydney Morning Herald See also: Shifting sands: push for government to crack down on corporate profits The Sydney Morning Herald Myanmar: Crackdown on tax dodgers has tycoons racing to file income declarations, … [Read more...]
The Price We Pay — more praise for Harold Crooks’ film documentary
"It's not often that something as dry as tax theory can result in an engrossing night at the movies, but credit Harold Crooks and his team for providing an exceptional articulation about the vagaries of "off shoring" in an accessible, engaging way with The Price We … [Read more...]
Academics Stand Against Poverty report on illicit financial flows
Academics Stand Against Poverty have published the results of a survey of experts views on how to tackle illicit financial flows. TJN took part in this survey and we are pleased (though not surprised) that so many of our core campaign demands rank high on the list of … [Read more...]
The Price We Pay – Variety review
"Director Harold Crooks' well-crafted documentary offers a concise, engrossing and occasionally infuriating overview of the ways multinationals avoid taxes by stashing profits in offshore havens." … [Read more...]
Financial globalisation not so great – Bank for International Settlements
We don't have time today to do this one justice, but it's an important pair of articles on FT Alphaville - here and here, which are introduced, if not fully summarised, thus: "The consensus among Western policymakers is beginning to shift, however. The IMF officially changed its tune in 2011 by … [Read more...]
Links Sep 5
Developing Countries Could Reap Trillions By Squashing Financial Secrecy, Paper Says Wall Street Journal 'Giant international companies receiving undue tax exemptions' IPPNews "Mega International companies operating in Tanzania, Zambia and Angola are receiving undue tax exemptions through … [Read more...]
How to talk about tax justice, U.S.-style
From Americans for Tax Fairness, a Tax Fairness Briefing Booklet. They say: "To win the fight for a fairer tax system, we’ve got to know how to talk effectively about the issues. That’s why Americans for Tax Fairness published this briefing booklet. It contains guidance on the most effective … [Read more...]
Finally, financial crime begins to embarrass Delaware
In July we wrote a blog entitled Delaware corporate secrecy and crime: a long-awaited debate begins, with some welcome news about shifting attitudes in Delaware about its business of building state revenues by (among other things) welcoming international and U.S. criminal money. Now, an update. … [Read more...]
Links Sep 4
The trillion dollar scandal of financial secrecy Financial Times (paywall) Guest blog by By David McNair of the ONE Campaign. See also: ‘Web of corrupt activity’ costs poorest countries a trillion dollars a year The Guardian, and our blog yesterday The Trillion Dollar Scandal – ONE’s new report … [Read more...]
The Offshore Wrapper: a week in tax justice #29
Scotland to become Europe’s latest tax haven? People in Scotland have already started voting in the referendum on whether to separate from the United Kingdom and become a separate country. But as well as becoming Europe’s newest country, could Scotland also become Europe’s newest tax haven? … [Read more...]
The nonsense of shareholder ownership
Neoliberals claim that shareholders are the owners of companies. This is nonsense, argues Austin Mitchell MP and Prem Sikka, Professor of Accounting, University of Essex in this joint paper published in Left Foot Forward. … [Read more...]
Links Sep 3
It Is Time To Unmask The Corrupt in Switzerland Transparency International Banks agonise over US tax evasion ‘guilt’ swissinfo Most Dutch banks are 'vague' about tax avoidance: fair banking report DutchNews.nl … [Read more...]
