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> Amazon has done a large amount of damage to the UK high street Contentious - damage, or consumer choice and therefore progress? > However I feel both are ta

> Amazon has done a large amount of damage to the UK high street Contentious - damage, or consumer choice and therefore progress? > However I feel both are taking the piss when it comes to taxes While I have zero doubt these companies and others will be taking 101% advantage of the situation, don't forget that the situation has been created by our own governments and an unwillingness to modernise in the face of a globalised world. For example, it surprises most people to learn that this 'brand value' Starbucks charges itself for (or the fact that these companies charge themselves between entities in the first place) is in many ways a requirement of the corporation to abide by transfer pricing rules.

aes256 14y ago
> Contentious - damage, or consumer choice and therefore progress? It's a matter of whether there is a level playing field. I was shocked to hear the representative from Amazon admit yesterday that they only pay 3% tax on ebook sales through an agreement with Luxembourg. That's absurd.
epscylonb 14y ago
> While I have zero doubt these companies and others will be taking 101% advantage of the situation, don't forget that the situation has been created by our own governments and an unwillingness to modernise in the face of a globalised world. Ultimately it is the fault of the voters, and as another poster pointed out, this is about a level playing field, not "punishing" big multi nationals. What we have seen since the 80's is a corporate oligarchy being created, if you can get into it you are set for life. These people are Nixonian in their attitude, "it's not morally wrong when I avoid taxes". This also stems from the amorality of Ayn Rand's writings, in Randian thinking it is acceptable to expect others to follow a moral code which you yourself break and it's acceptable to admonish others for breaking it. Big companies don't actually create a lot of jobs, most companies over their lifespan shed workers as they become more efficient. For a healthy free market to operate, it is vitally important that the percentage tax burden is the same for small companies and large companies, governments should not be giving tax advantages to anyone. This economic cherry picking causes "too big to fail" syndrome. As a UK voter, if a political party said they would simplify the tax code and make all companies who operate in the UK pay taxes on their business here I would probably vote for them.

aes256 14y ago

> Contentious - damage, or consumer choice and therefore progress? It's a matter of whether there is a level playing field. I was shocked to hear the representative from Amazon admit yesterday that they only pay 3% tax on ebook sales through an agreement with Luxembourg. That's absurd.

epscylonb 14y ago

> While I have zero doubt these companies and others will be taking 101% advantage of the situation, don't forget that the situation has been created by our own governments and an unwillingness to modernise in the face of a globalised world. Ultimately it is the fault of the voters, and as another poster pointed out, this is about a level playing field, not "punishing" big multi nationals. What we have seen since the 80's is a corporate oligarchy being created, if you can get into it you are set for life. These people are Nixonian in their attitude, "it's not morally wrong when I avoid taxes". This also stems from the amorality of Ayn Rand's writings, in Randian thinking it is acceptable to expect others to follow a moral code which you yourself break and it's acceptable to admonish others for breaking it. Big companies don't actually create a lot of jobs, most companies over their lifespan shed workers as they become more efficient. For a healthy free market to operate, it is vitally important that the percentage tax burden is the same for small companies and large companies, governments should not be giving tax advantages to anyone. This economic cherry picking causes "too big to fail" syndrome. As a UK voter, if a political party said they would simplify the tax code and make all companies who operate in the UK pay taxes on their business here I would probably vote for them.