Ireland’s tax games: the challenge of tackling corporate tax avoidance

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nessa Ní Chasaide
Keyword(s):  
Tax Avoidance ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Corporate Tax ◽  
Tax Havens ◽  
Development Path ◽  
Corporate Profit ◽  
Tax Haven ◽  
Potential Alternative ◽  
Financial Transactions

Abstract The phenomenon of financialization has given rise to new modes of corporate profit accumulation. This includes the creation of global channels for corporate tax avoidance that are embedded in the operations of global firms. Due to a lack of transparency by multinational companies (MNCs), these channels, and their tax implications, are not easily identified or understood. This article sets out the workings of the ‘global tax games’ which operate via intracompany financial transactions alongside the reorganization of the functions of MNCs. The article highlights the consequences for communities of corporate tax avoidance, whereby corporate shareholders and tax haven states profit at the expense of other states and communities. Thus, people living in tax havens, often unknowingly, benefit from tax revenues that should have been paid elsewhere. It offers a case study of Ireland, an understudied case, but which is repeatedly identified as a key node in the global network of corporate tax avoidance. It emphasizes that, in the case of Ireland, a precursor to a potential alternative development path is the acknowledgement of its problematic role.

scholarly journals INDONESIAN LISTED FIRMS, CORPORATE TAX AVOIDANCE, AND TAX HAVEN: EVIDENCE FROM THE ICIJ OFFSHORE LEAKS DATABASE

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gatot Soepriyanto ◽  
Arfian Zudana ◽  
Priti Siwa Linggam
Keyword(s):  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Tax Avoidance ◽  
Corporate Tax ◽  
Effective Tax Rate ◽  
Tax Havens ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Tax Haven ◽  
Tax Savings ◽  
Tax Payments

This study aims to investigate the involvement of Indonesian firms in tax haven jurisdiction and their corporate tax avoidance activities. Employing Indonesian companies listed in the Indonesia Stock Exchange and the ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database from 2005-2016, this study found that Indonesian companies with tax haven operations as documented in the offshore database have a lower Cash Effective Tax Rate (CETR) and Book Effective Tax Rate (BETR) relative to companies which presumably are unrelated to tax haven jurisdiction based on the leaks data. The results indicate that the effect of having tax haven operations is the reduction of tax payments. Furthermore, as predicted, this study found evidence that companies with tax haven operations as indicated in the ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database have higher cash holdings compared to the counterparts. In this case, those companies also have lower leverage relative to the companies without tax haven operations. Additionally, we also found that firms involved in tax haven operations have a lower return on assets and capital expenditures compared to firms that are not established in a tax haven jurisdiction. In general, those results show that by having operations in tax havens, companies can generate higher cash tax savings to be used for their operations. The findings of this study are significant to identify the characteristics attached to companies with tax haven operations and extend previous literature studies by providing evidence on the characteristics of companies in developing countries which use tax haven operations.

scholarly journals The Interplay Between Tax Havens, Geographic Disclosures and Corporate Tax Avoidance: Evidence from European Union

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sameh Kobbi-Fakhfakh
Keyword(s):  
Tax Avoidance ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Corporate Tax ◽  
Effective Tax Rate ◽  
Effective Tax Rates ◽  
Tax Havens ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Tax Haven

Abstract This study examines the interplay between tax haven use, geographic disclosures and corporate tax avoidance. Based on a panel of 497 non-financial EU listed firms during the period 2006–2012, we provide evidence that corporate groups with affiliates in tax havens tend to have lower effective tax rates and lower geographic disclosures fineness scores. We, also, find a positive association between geographic disclosures fineness scores and the firms’ effective tax rates. We, further, find that the negative association between tax haven use and the effective tax rate is more pronounced for firms disclosing geographic information at a more aggregated level, showing a moderating effect of geographic disclosures fineness on such association. Our findings are based upon hand-collected data on corporate geographical dispersion, and corroborated by several additional and robustness tests. The research results should be of concern to policymakers and others interested in multinational companies’ segment reporting practices and tax planning activities.

Brewing Up Controversy: A Case Exploring the Ethics of Corporate Tax Planning

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan F. Hess ◽  
Raquel Meyer Alexander
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Tax Avoidance ◽  
Tax Planning ◽  
Learning Assessment ◽  
Class Discussion ◽  
Corporate Tax ◽  
Tax Havens ◽  
Multinational Organizations ◽  
The U.S

ABSTRACT This instructional case explores the ethical issues surrounding the corporate tax-planning and tax-avoidance strategies of multinational organizations. Drawing on the real-world experiences of SABMiller, one of the world's largest beverage companies, this case provides a launching point for students to consider the ethics of corporate tax planning. The ethics of multinational tax practices, especially the use of tax havens, has recently become the focus of media and legislative debate in both the U.S. and the U.K., and many well-respected companies, such as General Electric, Apple Inc., and Starbucks are now feeling the pressure to reform. In a post-case learning assessment, students demonstrated significant improvement in their understanding and indicated that they enjoyed discussing this controversial issue. The “Implementation Guidance” section and Teaching Notes offer guidance for in-class discussion of the ethical and tax issues in this case.

Ending the Tax Haven Scandals

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 1850175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert T. Kudrle
Keyword(s):  
Tax Evasion ◽  
Income Tax ◽  
Tax Avoidance ◽  
Personal Income Tax ◽  
Corporate Tax ◽  
Formula Apportionment ◽  
Automatic Information ◽  
Tax Haven ◽  
The World ◽  
Taking Action

States around the world appear more determined than ever to end tax haven abuse. The new U.S. administration, for example, is taking action against both major tax haven problems: corporation income tax avoidance and personal income tax evasion. Some progress may be made. This essay argues, however, that only radically new policy will likely suffice either to shore up corporate tax revenues or to sharply diminish evasion. Global formula apportionment is needed if the corporate income tax is to be preserved, and only a combination of automatic information sharing among governments and source withholding can stamp out evasion. As in most areas of international economic policy, U.S. leadership is essential.

scholarly journals Role of Tax Havens in Tax Avoidance by Multinationals with Special Regard to Ireland

2020 ◽  
pp. 333-341
Author(s):  
Tamás Zoltán Wágner
Keyword(s):  
Tax Avoidance ◽  
Case Law ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Preferential Treatment ◽  
Tax System ◽  
Tax Havens ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Tax Haven ◽  
The Government

Nowadays, many multinationals use tax avoidance strategies in order to minimise their tax liability. They often cooperate with governments providing them preferential treatment. These low-tax jurisdictions called tax havens pose a threat for world economy because they result in huge budgetary loss for countries. Even the European Union has its own tax havens which contribute to the loss of 250 billion euros annually. It is more than 2% of the Union’s GNP. Despite the apparent negative evidences, several member states’ tax system still contains favourable provisions for multinationals. Although, almost everybody would mention the Benelux states first, but many multinationals utilize the loopholes of the Irish tax system. In this regard, it is enough to refer to the Apple case where the European Commission ordered the recuperation of 13 billion euros from the company due to illegal state aid. Hence, we conducted a research based on academic literature and case-law. After a short introduction and dealing with the European Commission’s response to tax avoidance, we analyse the Irish tax system. The main goal was to demonstrate that Ireland – despite the denial of the respective authorities – was a tax haven. Our study proves that multinationals could use almost freely several tax optimisation strategies (e.g. Double Irish and Dutch Sandwich) up to now. Due to strong criticism and scandals the government had to amend the former tax regime, but it does not mean that preferential treatment is abolished. Ireland still should be considered a tax haven.

scholarly journals Aggressive Tax Planning and Corporate Tax Avoidance: The Case Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-38
Author(s):  
Adzhar Sulaiman ◽  
Kamil Md. Idris ◽  
Saliza Abdul Aziz
Keyword(s):  
Tax Avoidance ◽  
Tax Planning ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Corporate Tax ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Policy Responses ◽  
Tax Practitioners ◽  
The Media ◽  
Inland Revenue

There have been increasing literature on aggressive tax planning and corporate tax avoidance, which focus on economic consequences (Ksovreli, 2015; Hanlon & Heitzman, 2010). Campaigners have targeted tax-avoiding corporations through the media, citing the enormous amount of tax losses (Hasseldine, Holland & Van der Rijt, 2012). It is pertinent that policy-makers and tax authorities to take action against tax avoiders and tax intermediaries. This paper focuses on the tax avoidance structures identified during tax audits and investigations and further contributes to an understanding of tax avoidance structures and models. The key models identified are related to the abuse of tax incentives and the use of corporate restructuring to minimize or reduced tax exposures. Based on the Case Management System of the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, we identify the key structures, their roles and incentives, and outline the tax avoidance schemes. The study summarizes a range of policy responses to tax avoidance, including anti-avoidance rules, disclosure rules and the regulation of tax intermediaries such as tax practitioners.

scholarly journals Taxing across Borders: Tracking Personal Wealth and Corporate Profits

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 121-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Zucman
Keyword(s):  
Tax Evasion ◽  
Tax Avoidance ◽  
Corporate Tax ◽  
Effective Tax Rate ◽  
Profit Shifting ◽  
Tax Havens ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
Tenfold Increase ◽  
Corporate Profits

This article attempts to estimate the magnitude of corporate tax avoidance and personal tax evasion through offshore tax havens. US corporations book 20 percent of their profits in tax havens, a tenfold increase since the 1980; their effective tax rate has declined from 30 to 20 percent over the last 15 years, and about two-thirds of this decline can be attributed to increased international tax avoidance. Globally, 8 percent of the world's personal financial wealth is held offshore, costing more than $200 billion to governments every year. Despite ambitious policy initiatives, profit shifting to tax havens and offshore wealth are rising. I discuss the recent proposals made to address these issues, and I argue that the main objective should be to create a world financial registry.

scholarly journals The Corporate Tax Haven Index

2021 ◽  
pp. 89-111
Author(s):  
Leyla Ates ◽  
Alex Cobham ◽  
Moran Harari ◽  
Petr Janský ◽  
Markus Meinzer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Tax Reform ◽  
Tax Avoidance ◽  
Corporate Tax ◽  
Profit Shifting ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Political Implications ◽  
Tax Haven ◽  
First Time ◽  
New Geography

In this chapter, we set out a new approach to the geography of profit shifting, based on a range of objectively verifiable criteria. These are combined in the Corporate Tax Haven Index, published for the first time in 2019. We present the technical argument for the index as a meaningful representation of the global distribution of the risks of corporate tax abuse and explore the new geography that emerges. Our findings show the UK’s dominant responsibility for corporate tax avoidance risks and the colonial roots of many exploitative double tax treaties. We discuss the index’s political implications for the immediate process of international tax reform, and for the longer-term prospects for global governance in this area. Greater clarity about the geography of profit shifting is likely to support growing demands for redistribution not only of taxing rights but also of decision-making power in the global architecture for tax governance.

The Double Irish and Dutch Sandwich strategies and tax avoidance in Mauritius

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ambareen Beebeejaun
Keyword(s):  
Income Tax ◽  
Tax Avoidance ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Tax Havens ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Research ◽  
Preventive Actions ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Subject

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the Double Irish and Dutch Sandwich (DIDS) tax schemes used by international companies. Companies using these schemes are enabled to transfer a large amount of their profits to offshore tax havens by using wholly owned subsidiaries located in Ireland and the Netherlands. This paper also analyzes the US General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) to see whether it can effectively detect and counteract this scheme. This analysis is furthermore enhanced by applying the Mauritian GAAR through Section 90 of the Income Tax Act to the said schemes. Design/methodology/approach Concerning research methods, the library and the internet will be the main sources of information to be used for this paper. Through the usage of library research, the Mauritian Income Tax Act, US GAAR, European Commission decisions and scholar writings will further enhance this paper on the structure and preventive actions that can be taken against the DIDS scheme. This paper will also use a case study coupled with a theoretical analysis of current anti-avoidance rules. Findings The paper then concludes that it is possible to counteract the schemes using the Mauritian law but under specific circumstances. It is then revealed that there is a fundamental flaw in the current tax systems, which is the inability to regulate the intangible nature of resources and technology-based transactions. Originality/value To the author's knowledge, this paper is among the first literature on the subject of DIDS strategies conducted in the context of Mauritius.

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