This article was originally written for International Tax Review Someone on Twitter asked how people would sum up this week’s PAC hearing on tax avoidance in three words. Tongue in cheek, I replied: “Good versus evil”. The point is that this is a polarised debate on a moral question and despite the grey area tax […]
PAC hearing shows gulf between Big 4 and public opinion Read More »
At 11.39pm, April 14 1912, a man called Robert Hitchins made the mistake of turning right instead of left. The RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank, taking with it a captain who had blithely ignored all warnings of danger and plowed on full steam ahead with the arrogance of an Empire which was soon
George Osborne: History will remember you better if you turn left Read More »
Once again it seems everyone’s favourite morning bog roll, the Sun, has proved its ability to break intelligent, thought-provoking, evidence-based investigative reports that challenge our preconceived notions and strike at the heart of our prejudices. I’m talking here about it holding up Lithuanian mother Natalija Belova and the benefits she apparently claims as an example
The Sun’s “benefit scrounging” Lithuanian mum Natalija Belova is an actor Read More »
I have a letter in today’s Evening Standard on the role of tax avoidance in HMV’s downfall.
Letter in the Evening Standard: HMV and LVCR Read More »
David Cameron is taking his sabre to the Netherlands tomorrow, rattling it like a toy rattles when it’s thrown from a pram. On the agenda: Britain’s future in Europe. There will be the predictable xenophobic, nationalistic froth from the right calling for the UK to leave the European Union. Almost as dangerous, there will be
Why we need the EU Read More »
There’s an interesting debate going on at AccountancyAge between tax justice campaigner Richard Murphy and BDO partner Stephen Herring. Both accountants by trade, but coming to radically different conclusions. Murphy sets out his position on the morality of tax avoidance thus: Where does the boundary lie between moral and immoral as Ray McCann asks? That’s easily
Tax avoidance: Fair or foul? Read More »
Sad news for dinosaurs like me who still like their music on little round disks that double as frisbees and mirrors, but HMV has gone into administration. No doubt the company has been beset with financial woes, but what few people seem to be reporting is how much the fall of His Master’s Voice owes
HMV goes into administration because of tax avoidance Read More »
My editorial from the latest issue of International Tax Review Contrary to the tin-hat theories on Mayan prophecy, 2012 is over and the world has not ended. But the year brought great change for multinationals and how they conduct their corporate tax affairs. Tax avoidance has dogged companies in the mainstream press like never before.
Reputation is now a tax risk Read More »
