Bloomberg has reported today that: European soccer ruling body UEFA is asking U.K. authorities to investigate two so-called letterbox companies that helped Porto (FCP)fund a player transfer. For Gool Co. and Pearl Design Holding Ltd. provided finance for the two-time European champion to sign Brazilian striker Walter da Silvafor 6.2 million euros ($8.1 million) in 2010, according to Porto’s
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A new campaign has been launched today called Move Your Money. The logic is simple: if you don’t like the behaviour of the bank you’re with move you money somewhere else. I am doing just that, and explain why, here (and apologies for quality – made in a hurry!): If you agree, please move your money.

The Tax Justice Network has just launched a new monthly podcast – The TaxCast. In each 15 minute show, TJN will be discussing the latest news relating to tax evasion, tax avoidance and the shadow banking system. In the inaugural TaxCast the implications of the Vodafone vs India landmark tax case are discussed (by me),
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From Paul Krugman, yesterday: The infuriating thing about this tragedy [of a recession] is that it is completely unnecessary. Half a century ago, any economist — or for that matter any undergraduate who had read Paul Samuelson’s textbook “Economics” — could have told you that austerity in the face of depression was a very bad
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Reuters reported today that: Switzerland must tackle the problem of untaxed money in secret accounts and also must ensure the central bank does not become a political pawn, the country’s economy minister was quoted as saying on Saturday. “The problem of untaxed wealth in Switzerland is a serious problem that we need to resolve. Not only
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This was drawn to my attention today by Alex Andreou and I copy this from his blog: I was interested to see the following announcement in today’s London Evening Standard: It caught my eye, buried even though it was in the Jobs section. What byelaws, specific to Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square, could our dear
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This data from the New York Times makes clear who has benefited most and least from the US recession: So companies have won and paid less tax too. Workers lost, badly. And you wonder why people are annoyed?  

Matt Sissons has reviewed my book The Courageous State on the Why Politics? blog. I won’t reproduce the whole review, and it’s fair to note he does offer some minor criticisms, which he has absolute right to do, before concluding: What is most evident is that this is a book rammed full of good ideas.
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Up to 20,000 HMRC staff are expected to strike at some time tomorrow. The reason why they’re doing so is simple: HMRC, in the face of damning criticism of its management, has decided to bring in private contractors at two sites to handle calls from the public about their tax affairs. Wholly reasonably PCS staff are defending
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