KPMG has published its latest survey on the UK's tax competitiveness.
It's message is clear: it says the UK is slipping behind.
But look who it compares us to:
Let's be blunt: Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands are all small states who are tax havens. It's an impossible business model for the UK to emulate. It's also like asking us to move in the direction of Iceland. This is, to be blunt, economic madness.
Sue Bonney of KPMG says in the report that:
At a time when both the state and business are having to work closely in an unprecedented way to help us through the credit crunch, perhaps the feeling that we are all in this together will lead to increased mutual understanding and a better working relationship in the future.
She quite clearly does not understand the term "we".
Alex Cobham of Christian Aid does (see earlier today).
We don't want to be a tax haven. We know the harm they cause. We suffer the impact. KPMG may not. We do. That's my point. That's why they are so wrong. That's why they're the last people to help reform the tax system, economy or anything else right now.
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Do you have any links to material which show all the bad things the netherlands is doing?
http://somo.nl/html/paginas/pdf/netherlands_tax_haven_2006_NL.pdf
Richard
The UK is already a tax haven!
And so is the US !! I cannot believe the sheer volume of companies in places like Delaware and Wyoming to name just two States who ask no questions whatsoever.
I haven’t seen up to date figures but about 2 years ago I was told that there were more “offshore” companies in Delaware that in the BVI and Panama put together, and at the time those two jurisdictions had something like 70% of the total number of companies registered in offshore jurisdictions.
Its time the US got its act in order re. the issues on their own doorsteps before attacking the offshore centres.
Rupert
I entirely agree
The US is a tax haven because of places like Delaware
They have to go. Joe Biden is not good news in this respect. We have to hope Obama will stand up to him
Richard
There is not a cat in hell’s chance of offshore corporate reform then. The US has to take a lead on this if it expects everyone else to change their regimes. It just won’t happen.
Which is no doubt why there is a bill before the Senate for this purpose right now
Richard
I would still be amazed if the US agrees to scrap the “Delaware lark”.