The Art Of Tax Avoidance: 5 Corporate Tactics

January 15, 2023January 15, 2023 Shyam Kumar 0 Comments

Tax avoidance is the practice of using legal methods to reduce a company’s tax liability. While it is not illegal to reduce your tax bill through legal means, some companies have been known to engage in unethical or illegal tax avoidance practices. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the ways companies do tax avoidance and the potential consequences of these actions.

Tax Avoidance by Companies:

1. Transfer pricing:

Transfer pricing refers to the practice of artificially inflating or deflating the price of goods or services between different subsidiaries of a company in order to reduce tax liability. This can be done by overcharging for goods or services from one subsidiary to another, or by undercharging for goods or services.

2. Offshore tax havens:

Many companies use offshore tax havens to reduce their tax liabilities. These are countries or territories with low or no corporate income tax rates. By registering a subsidiary in a tax haven and routing profits through that subsidiary, a company can reduce its tax bill.

3. Tax credits and deductions:

Companies can also take advantage of tax credits and deductions to reduce their tax liability. These can include research and development tax credits, depreciation deductions, and other incentives.

4. Tax inversion:

Tax inversion is the practice of merging with or acquiring a company in a country with a lower corporate income tax rate in order to reduce the overall tax bill.

5. Double Irish with a Dutch sandwich:

This is a tax avoidance strategy that companies use to transfer profits from a high-tax country to a low-tax country. It involves setting up an Irish subsidiary that is taxed at a lower rate and routing profits through a Dutch subsidiary before transferring them to a third subsidiary located in a tax haven.

Consequences:

The consequences of these actions can be severe, not only for the companies themselves but also for the countries and citizens affected by the lost revenue. Some of the consequences include:

Loss of revenue for governments:

Tax manipulation results in a loss of revenue for governments, which can lead to budget deficits and a lack of funding for essential public services.

Inequity:

Tax manipulation results in a disparity between companies that pay their fair share of taxes and those that use legal loopholes to avoid paying taxes. This creates an unfair advantage for companies that engage in tax manipulation.

Reputation:

Companies that engage in tax manipulation can damage their reputation, which can lead to a loss of customers and damage to their brand.

Legal consequences:

Companies that engage in illegal tax avoidance practices can face legal consequences, such as fines and penalties.

It’s important to note that, while it is legal to reduce your tax bill through legal means, it is important for companies to be transparent about their tax practices and to pay their fair share of taxes. Many countries are taking steps to address tax avoidance, such as implementing new laws and regulations, and countries are also working together to close the tax loopholes. From 1985 to 2018, the global average corporate statutory tax rate fell from 49% to 24%, thereby shifting the tax burden from companies and their shareholders to workers’ wages.

Also Read: Formation and Incorporation Of Company

Though there is a difference between Tax avoidance – An action taken to lessen tax liability and maximize after-tax income & tax evasion – The failure to pay or a deliberate underpayment of taxes.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Tax avoidance is the practice of using legal methods to reduce a company’s tax liability. It can include practices such as transfer pricing, offshore tax havens, tax credits and deductions, tax inversion, and Double Irish with a Dutch sandwich. These actions can have severe consequences, not only for the companies themselves but also for the countries and citizens affected.