Turkey: AKP should see taxation as a tool for development, not punishment Hurriyet Interview with Leyla Ate?, a member of the BEPS Monitoring Group (BMG) The Rise of Europe’s Unlikeliest Tax Haven Ozy Cites TJN'S Nicholas Shaxson, author of Treasure Islands: Tax Havens and the Men who Stole … [Read more...]
Archives for 2015
GATJ: OECD tweaks to tax rules for multinational corporations fall short on transparency, inclusivity
From the Global Alliance for Tax Justice, a press release on the OECD's BEPS process, which we wrote about yesterday: "The Global Alliance for Tax Justice (GATJ) is urgently calling for a United Nations-based follow-up process to the “flawed” OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project, in … [Read more...]
Our Spanish language podcast: Justicia ImPositiva, Edición 2
Our Spanish language podcast: Justicia ImPositiva, Edición 2. En la segunda edición de Justicia ImPositiva nos vamos a México, a ver cómo el gobierno de ese país intenta forzar a las grandes corporaciones a pagar más impuestos. También hablamos con el economista y catedrático de la Universidad de … [Read more...]
Press release: OECD’s BEPS proposals will not be the end of tax avoidance by multinationals
PRESS RELEASE EMBARGOED: 14:00 CET See this press release in pdf form here. See the BEPS Monitoring Group's longer technical evaluation here (or in condensed form here.) See links to further statements by others below. OECD’s BEPS proposals will not be the end of tax avoidance by … [Read more...]
Belize and the curious tale of the British lord
Britons have been titillating themselves recently with some sordid but quite likely untrue allegations made against UK Prime Minister David Cameron by Lord Michael Ashcroft (whom in making the allegations may have been motivated by pique or revenge.) We won't dignify these allegations by … [Read more...]
Dear Ambassador, the Bahamas is most definitely a tax haven
Update: condolences to those in the Bahamas who have suffered from Hurricane Joaquin which hit the islands on Saturday. We should add that those who have probably suffered most from the devastation have nothing to do with the Bahamas' offshore financial industry. The Bahamas' Ambassador to … [Read more...]
World Bank president: corporate tax dodging ‘a form of corruption’
From a speech by World Bank President Jim Yong Kim: "Some companies use elaborate strategies to not pay taxes in countries in which they work, a form of corruption that hurts the poor." That is a powerful statement from a powerful individual. This is indeed something that we've been arguing … [Read more...]
Tax avoidance by corporations is out of control; the UN must step in
Earlier this summer we blogged about how the powerful OECD bullied their way at the Addis Ababa financing for development summit to block developing country requests for a proper inter-governmental body to establish the groundrules for international tax cooperation. Now, writing in The Guardian, … [Read more...]
Christian Aid: new Swissleaks analysis shows harm to developing countries
An important new analysis from Christian Aid. Note the pull-out quote highlighting the problems with the OECD's Common Reporting Standard, or CRS. September 30 2015 NEW SWISSLEAKS ANALYSIS REVEALS HOW TAX HAVEN SECRECY HARMS DEVELOPING COUNTRIES New, detailed examination of the SwissLeaks files … [Read more...]
How ‘competitive’ tax and incentive policies hurt small U.S. businesses
Cross-posted from the Fools' Gold site: Recently we have written about how supposedly 'competitive' national policies on tax and the financial sector in Britain tend to favour large multinational firms over smaller, more locally-based ones, and how they also tend to lead to less competition in … [Read more...]
Pope Francis on inequality, tax evasion and corruption
Eric LeCompte of Jubilee USA Network has written a useful article on the occasion of Pope Francis' visit to the United States, in which he's highlighted some important historical quotes of his. For instance: "Working for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere … [Read more...]
Switzerland: still the home of secret banking
There's been a lot of press about Swiss banking secrecy being finished, because of certain improvements that have been made. We periodically issue reminders that this ain't so, for many reasons. Just for instance: Swiss Banking Secrecy laws, in the spirit of the famous 1934 Swiss Banking Secrecy … [Read more...]
Links Sep 24
Why dirty money still plagues Switzerland swissinfo “The problems arise only from the moment the PEP becomes a persona non grata in the eyes of the Swiss government or other international organisations.” Why the German tax authority is protecting Apple Zeit (In German) By TJN's Markus … [Read more...]
Just how do you change the world?
The Greatest Invention: Tax and the Campaign for a Just Society Foreword by John Christensen Experts wanted for hazardous mission. Small wages, fierce resistance, many years in the wilderness, constant pressure. November 10, 2003 Jeremy Corbyn's victory in the Labour leadership elections in … [Read more...]
Links Sep 23
Finance ministers call for minimum EU tax rate Politico Australia: Tax office did not go to police over fears wealthy would be kidnapped – inquiry The Guardian See also: Do you want Australia's megarich to be kidnapped? Do you? Then let them hide their tax First Dog on the Moon via The … [Read more...]
