The Big Companies That Avoid Taxes by David Leonhardt

Four Corporate Tax Loopholes States Should Close | Institute for ...
(Image by ilsr.org)   Details   DMCA

"A tangle of tax breaks and loopholes let huge corporations avoid federal, state, local and foreign taxes. Billions of dollars in taxes are avoided by G.E., Coca-Cola and others is money that can’t be used to lift living standards for ordinary families, or to reduce their taxes; it can't can’t pay for schools, medical research or clean energy .As strong as the case for change is, corporate-tax reform will still cause a nasty political fight.  Brick-and-mortar retailers  can’t easily pretend their business is based overseas and pay higher taxes. This system is cumbersome — causing companies to devote great effort to tax avoidance — and unfair. A better system could lift economic growth, by directing more of investors’ money to truly promising companies, rather than tax-advantaged ones.  The inequities contribute to the great American stagnation that I described in last week’s column."