More than70 percent of Fortune 500 companies maintain subsidiaries in offshore tax havens as of 2013, according to “Offshore Shell Games,” a report released May 5 by the U.S.
More than70 percent of Fortune 500 companies maintainsubsidiaries in offshore tax havensas of 2013, according to “Offshore Shell Games,” a report released May 5 by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund and Citizens For Tax Justice, two left-leaning activist groups. These organizations reported almost $2 trillion in profits held offshore, with the 30 largest accounting for 62 percent, or $1.2 trillion.
“Our tax code is broken, and it’s hurting the public,” said Dan Smith, Tax and Budget advocate for the U.S. PIRG Education Fund and a co-author of the report. “We’ve made it too easy for American multinationals to dodge taxes by setting up shell companies in tax havens. We simply shouldn’t allow companies that use American roads, and benefit from America’s education system and large consumer market, to take a free ride at the expense of the rest of us.”
The U.S. has not made significant changes to its tax code since 1986, according to Reuters. As a result, there are a number of loopholes present that can be used by individuals, families and corporations. Large businesses regularly defend their tax practices as legal and in the best interest of shareholders. However, recent financial troubles experienced by major western governments and increasingly aggressive tax-minimization strategies have given rise to a backlash of public opinion.
“The loopholes in America’s corporate tax have grown so outrageous that our policymakers should be embarrassed,” said Steve Wamhoff, CTJ legislative director. “The data in this report demonstrate that a huge portion of the supposedly ‘offshore’ profits are likely to be U.S. profits that are manipulated so that they appear to be earned in countries like Bermuda or the Cayman Islands where they won’t be taxed. Policymakers should close the loopholes that make this manipulation possible.”
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Demand Letters & Cease and Desist Letters: When to Send One (and When Not To)
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Portability of estate and gift tax enables a surviving spouse to inherit any unused portion of their deceased spouse’s federal estate and gift tax exemption. So, if one spouse doesn’t utilize their full exemption, the surviving spouse can effectively double their exemption amount with regard to estate tax liability. For married couples, portability offers a […]
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For many of us, pets are more than companions—they are members of the family. Yet they are often overlooked or inadequately provided for when it comes to estate planning. A pet trust offers a legally enforceable way to ensure that your animal continues to receive proper care if you become incapacitated or pass away. As […]
For many New Jersey business owners, a closely held company represents decades of work, financial investment, and personal sacrifice. Trusts in business succession planning are one of the most effective tools for protecting that value, allowing founders to control how and when the business passes to the next generation while reducing the risk of disputes, […]
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