FACT Submission to House Ways and Means Hearing on International Tax Reform
The FACT Coalition submitted the below letter to the House Ways and Means Committee in reference to a February 24, 2016 Hearing on International Tax Reform.
Civil Society Assails Multinational Tax Giveaway
“Tax Extenders” Deal Could Permanently Enshrine Outrageous Tax Dodging Loophole in Tax Code, Extend Another One for Five Years
Congressional Negotiators Ignore a Hundred Thousand Letters from Constituents Calling for an End to Egregious Offshore Tax Loopholes
WASHINGTON, DC – Civil society groups assailed a backroom congressional tax deal released early this morning as an egregious giveaway to multinational tax dodgers at the expense of U.S. taxpayers. The so called “tax extenders” deal could permanently enshrine in the tax code an offshore loophole known as the “Active Financing Exception”, which is abused by multinational companies to artificially shift profits overseas and dodge taxes at the expense of the American public. The deal also extends for five years another offshore loophole, known as the “CFC Look-Through Rule”, which also allows corporations to use accounting tricks to avoid paying taxes.
What Makes Delaware an Onshore Tax Haven
When you think of a tax haven, you probably imagine the far off tropical islands of Bermuda or Grand Cayman, but the reality is that there is a major tax haven even closer to home in the state of Delaware. A new report from Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) explains how one our nation’s smallest states is one of the world’s biggest havens for tax avoidance and evasion.
What makes Delaware a tax haven? First, Delaware is one of the easiest places in the world to set up an anonymous shell corporation. In fact, setting up a company in Delaware requires less information than signing up for some library cards. This means that it is difficult for law enforcement to trace the activities of the anonymous shell corporations to the people who actually own and control them. This is what makes Delaware corporations an ideal vehicle not only tax evasion, but also for illicit activities like drug trafficking, terrorism finance and defrauding the government.
In addition, the state does not require companies to pay any tax on income relating to intangible assets held by companies based in the state. Companies take advantage of accounting gimmicks to shift their intangible income from other states into Delaware in order to take advantage of the zero tax rate on income earned from intangible assets. For example, Toy R Us has avoided millions in taxes by transferring its trademarks and trade names (including “Geoffrey the Giraffe”) into Delaware and charging its subsidiaries in other states for use of its trademarks.
Tens of Thousands Urge Congress to Reject Any Extension of Egregious Tax Loopholes
House Lawmakers to Vote this Week on Temporary Renewal of “Tax Extenders” Package – including Two Outrageous Offshore Tax Loopholes Costing Taxpayers $10 Billion Annually
Some on Capitol Hill Push to Make Loopholes Permanent, but Media Reports Suggest Offshore Provisions Could Be Phased out as Part of Bigger Tax Deal, A Welcome Development
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of Congress should reject two egregious international tax loopholes in pending legislation, which combined would cost American taxpayers $10 billion per year, the Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition, its members, and tens of thousands of Americans said today.
FACT Urges Lawmakers to Embrace Global “BEPS” Effort to Curb Egregious Corporate Tax Dodging
OECD’s Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Package “Important First Step” Towards Curtailing Abusive Tax Avoidance, but More Must Be Done
WASHINGTON, DC – As two congressional committees held hearings today on global efforts to tackle abusive corporate tax dodging, the Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition urged U.S. lawmakers to embrace the efforts, which target a practice gouging American taxpayers of roughly $90 billion per year.
FACT Praises Introduction of Bills to Curb Abusive Tax Dodging by Multinationals
Putting America First Corporate Tax Act Would End Loophole Enabling Largest Companies to Indefinitely “Defer” Paying Taxes on Offshore Profits
Corporate Fair Share Tax Act Would Deter Multinationals from Renouncing American Citizenship to Avoid Paying Taxes
WASHINGTON, DC – The FACT (Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency) Coalition welcomed the introduction of two pieces of legislation by Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI) to close corporate tax loopholes costing U.S. taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars.