abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

6 Jun 2013

Author:
Simon Bowers, Guardian (UK)

Catholic bishops urge G8 to tackle tax avoidance

Cardinal Brady, the head of Ireland's Catholic church, has urged G8 leaders to make good on their pledge to tackle aggressive tax avoidance at a summit later this month, declaring that "paying a fair share of taxes" is a "moral obligation"...Last month, US senators described Ireland as a "tax haven", accusing it of facilitating a multibillion-dollar tax avoidance structure for Apple. Days earlier, politicians in the UK attacked Google for using Ireland as a base from which to book UK sales – a move that meant it would not have to pay HMRC tax on any resulting profits…Tax justice campaigners argue that Ireland's ultra-low corporation tax rate of 12.5%, combined with a series of additional tax incentives, is having a corrosive impact on tax coffers elsewhere, particularly poorer nations.