The Guardian  late yesterday: Marks & Spencer has become the latest in a string of UK companies to face criticism from tax campaigners over the way it structures its online sales to Europe – with one describing the its sales operation as similar to that of the internet retail giant Amazon. I suspect that was not the name
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In April 2013′s Taxcast: ‘offshore leaks’ blows the lid off secrecy for sale, the G20 endorse greater transparency (but let’s not get too excited), Luxembourg agrees to lift its banking secrecy, Austria next? And the Taxcast goes to India and takes a look at fake foreign direct investment. Produced by @Naomi_Fowler on www.tackletaxhavens.com/taxcast

I’ve long argued for the contention in the title of this blog. I am convinced legal limited liability is a privilege - after all, if people sign a piece of paper to form a company they no longer have to accept full responsibility for their debts. That’s an extraordinary state of affairs, and a massive privilege. But I have said
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Graham Aaronson QC’s report for HM Treasury on the desirability of a General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) for the UK is published this morning, and I warmly welcome it. There are two reasons for me saying that. First, in the days when Vince Cable and I used to talk he was quite a fan of my
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I wrote the following at the request of the Brighton Evening Argus for publication after the close of the UK Uncut trial in that city, in which I appeared as an expert witness to explain the links between tax avoidance and the cuts agenda of this government. I regret that the judge, sitting as a magistrate, did not accept that the link was close enough
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I have not given fair publicity to a new report from Fair Pensions, Action Aid and others on the fact that tax avoidance creates reputational risk for business. Their report, published yesterday, is here. As they say: The group’s briefing argues that ‘tax responsibility’ must take into account three key insights: 1. Compliance with the
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Art Uncut have an article in the Guardian this morning on their objectives. They say: Art Uncut aims to bring about a culture shift, to create a world where people automatically and instinctively think about tax ethically. First, we want to empower people to “Just Say No!” to the tax accountant. Hear, hear, I say. And by
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Only one in three companies in the UK pay tax. It’s likely that up to one in two, at least, should. The rest don’t pay because they’ve realised that H M Revenue & Customs don’t have the staff needed to chase them. So they get away without paying, scot-free. But that begs a big question. 
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I was asked one question on two separate occasions last week. It was “is tax a cost of business?” The answer is a resounding “no, it isn’t!” The idea that tax is a cost of business is a convenient myth – one propagated by the tax avoidance industry to provide an all too ready excuse for its clients who
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