Tax Havens Flashcards

1
Q

What did starbucks do involving tax between 2009 and 2012?

A

Reported no profit and paid no income tax on sales on £1.2 billion

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2
Q

When did starbucks start paying more tax?

A

In 2015 paid as much as its first 14 years after pressure to scrap complex tax structures

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3
Q

Why have shoppers been urged to boycott Amazons British business?

A

It paid only £4.2 million despite sales of £4.3 billion

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4
Q

How did facebooks tax change after it expanded in the UK?

A

Paid £4.2 million in 2015 but tax increase from 2014 only £4300

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5
Q

What is an example of a celebrity illegally reducing their tax?

A

Jimmy Carr used o K2 tax scheme as a way to lower his tax

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6
Q

What are Luxembourg’s corporate tax rates like?

A

Low

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7
Q

What does Luxembourg have an extremely low tax rate on?

A

sending money into and out of the country

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8
Q

What is the tax charge for corporations that funnel money through Luxembourg?

A

Around 1%

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9
Q

Why is Luxembourg’s low tax rate a huge incentive for large corporations?

A

Have the opportunity to save billions in corporate tax bills

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10
Q

What is not present to this day in Jersey involving tax?

A

No inheritance or capital gains tax

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11
Q

What is the corporate tax rate in Jersey?

A

0%

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12
Q

What is the exception with tax rates in Jersey?

A

Taxes levied on financial services, utility and property companies

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13
Q

What is the Caymans rules on tax?

A

Laws that allow a corporation to be formed and retain their assets without paying tax when held for business purposes its perfectly legal

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14
Q

What can be done to avoid Puerto Rican tax levies?

A

Can avoid most of it if you apply for one of 2 special “tax decrees”

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15
Q

With the tax decrees in Puerto Rico what is the tax rate?

A

4%

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16
Q

How long do you have to live in Puerto Rico to get the tax decrees?

A

6 months

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17
Q

What do tax havens facilitate?

A

The uneven distribution of wealth and capital in favour of more developed nations, the wealthy elite and TNCs

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18
Q

Why do people use tax havens?

A

No one wants to lose a sum of money earnt but mots countries charge tax on how much you earn

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19
Q

What is an example of income tax in the uk?

A

20% on anything between 12000-50000
40% between 50000-150000
After that 50%

20
Q

Why do millionaires and TNCs use tax havens?

A

They would be taxed a significant amount so tax of almost 0% or below 10 reduces that loss

21
Q

How much in dollars are locate din tax havens?

A

between 5 and 7 trillion

22
Q

How much have Cayman registered banks accumulated?

A

$1.5 trillion

23
Q

How much have Luxembourg’s mutual funds amassed?

A

$2.3 trillion

24
Q

How much money do swiss private bankers mange?

A

$4trillion of assets

25
Q

What did the Tax Justice Network estimate the loss to higher tax rate countries is because of Tax havens?

A

$255 billion

26
Q

What could tax money that richer countries lose be invested in?

A

Infrastructure projects
Economic boost

27
Q

How much of global trade goes through tax havens

A

half

28
Q

How much of global wealth in tax havens?

A

1/3

29
Q

How much dies it cost to make a shelf company in Puerto Rico?

A

$1000 to set up
$500 to hire a person to be nominated director company

30
Q

What makes someone be classified as high net worth?

A

$1 million to 50 million

31
Q

What makes someone classified as Ultra high net worth?

A

$50 million upwards

32
Q

What is trade liberalisation?

A

Economic efficiency can only be achieved if regulations are removed

33
Q

What is deregulation?

A

Removing the role of the government in the economy and allow the free movement of capital

34
Q

What sort of low tax states will TNCs go to?

A

Switzerland
Luxembourg
Ireland

35
Q

What is corporate migration?

A

When TNCs leave traditional homes for low tax states

36
Q

Why might a TNC not participate in corporate migration?

A

Brand authenticity
Corporate responsibility
Public perception
Want security and protection from the government

37
Q

What will companies that do not use corporate migration do instead?

A

Transfer pricing

38
Q

What is transfer pricing?

A

Reducing tax burden by routing profits through a subsidiary company owned by a parent company

39
Q

Where will the subsidiary company be based for transfer pricing?

A

Tax haven or low tax state

40
Q

Which 3 regions have the most ultra high net worth individuals?

A

North America- 230,000
Asia- 170,000
Europe- 150,000

41
Q

Which countries have low amounts of ultra high net worth individuals?

A

Russia- 7000
Africa- 2200

42
Q

What are kleptocracies often associated with?

A

Dictatorships or other autocratic governments

43
Q

How do kleptocratic officials who control public finds treat the money?

A

As a source of personal wealth

44
Q

What is an example of a kleptocratic offical?

A

General Suharto in Indonesia-

45
Q

How was Suharto kleptocratic?

A

Spent IMF loans personally and left population with debt

46
Q

How do kleptocratic officials get away with using public funds?

A

Secretly transfer into hidden personal numbered bank accounts in foreign countries to provide income if they are removed form power