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I think he is incorrect in his assertion that companies should choose to pay more taxes than legally required, but I think he is right to say it, because it'll

by delecti 12y ago

I think he is incorrect in his assertion that companies should choose to pay more taxes than legally required, but I think he is right to say it, because it'll build political support for changes to laws which (in my opinion) need to be made.

Alupis 12y ago
In the US, we encourage everyone to "go out and live the American dream". Open a business. Be successful! But as soon as you become successful, we will punish you via a huge tax burden among other things. We explicitly advocate success, yet implicitly advocate punishment of success. It's not hard to imageine why so many companies often see relocation as a way to relieve their tax burden. It's nothing a normal citizen doesn't do. Instead of focusing on punishing companies (who will eventually just up and leave altogether), we need to fix the core problem that is encouraging the behavior -- ie. the tax code.
- mattmanser 12y ago
  How is it punish? You only pay on profit and it's clear up front when you start. You can agree or disagree on it's efficacy on growing overall prosperity but to call it 'punishment' is strange.
  - Alupis 12y ago
    I chose the word "punishment" because corporate taxes (and taxes of top tier earners) are dramatically higher than "everyday joe's".[1] An argument can be made that they earn more/have more profit, and therefore can afford more in taxes -- yet that is the very punishment I'm referring to. "You are more successful than I, therefore you owe a higher percentage of your income". [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_tax_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-64 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_tax_in_the_United_States...
    - Raphael 12y ago
      But it's extra money. If you don't want to pay corporate taxes, spend the money on expanding the business, wages, or dividends.
      - Alupis 12y ago
        > But it's extra money. What? Who are you to decide how a company or individual spends their money? Your tone implies you feel that just because some company or individual has more money than they can spend, means they should pay more in taxes?
        mattmanser 12y ago
        Again, that's whether you support regressive or progressive tax systems and their efficacy. What is fair? But it's not punishment.
        Alupis 12y ago
        What is fair? I personally think a flat tax is the fairest. Some countries have already implemented this, such as the flat 13% tax rate in Russia which has been a success so far. Why do we charge people more just because they earned more? If you are a citizen, you should owe the same flat amount (percentage-wise).

by delecti 12y ago

Alupis 12y ago

In the US, we encourage everyone to "go out and live the American dream". Open a business. Be successful! But as soon as you become successful, we will punish you via a huge tax burden among other things. We explicitly advocate success, yet implicitly advocate punishment of success. It's not hard to imageine why so many companies often see relocation as a way to relieve their tax burden. It's nothing a normal citizen doesn't do. Instead of focusing on punishing companies (who will eventually just up and leave altogether), we need to fix the core problem that is encouraging the behavior -- ie. the tax code.

mattmanser 12y ago
How is it punish? You only pay on profit and it's clear up front when you start. You can agree or disagree on it's efficacy on growing overall prosperity but to call it 'punishment' is strange.
- Alupis 12y ago
  I chose the word "punishment" because corporate taxes (and taxes of top tier earners) are dramatically higher than "everyday joe's".[1] An argument can be made that they earn more/have more profit, and therefore can afford more in taxes -- yet that is the very punishment I'm referring to. "You are more successful than I, therefore you owe a higher percentage of your income". [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_tax_in_the_United_States#cite_ref-64 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_tax_in_the_United_States...
  - Raphael 12y ago
    But it's extra money. If you don't want to pay corporate taxes, spend the money on expanding the business, wages, or dividends.
    - Alupis 12y ago
      > But it's extra money. What? Who are you to decide how a company or individual spends their money? Your tone implies you feel that just because some company or individual has more money than they can spend, means they should pay more in taxes?
      - mattmanser 12y ago
        Again, that's whether you support regressive or progressive tax systems and their efficacy. What is fair? But it's not punishment.
        Alupis 12y ago
        What is fair? I personally think a flat tax is the fairest. Some countries have already implemented this, such as the flat 13% tax rate in Russia which has been a success so far. Why do we charge people more just because they earned more? If you are a citizen, you should owe the same flat amount (percentage-wise).