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Activision Blizzard has moved billions of dollars of profit into tax havens

taxwatchuk.org

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Re: Activision Blizzard has moved billions of dollars of profit into tax havens

#11

Post by FDSGSG »

mattmanser wrote: post #10
FDSGSG wrote: post #6

It's downright ridiculous to complain about companies taking perfectly legal steps to reduce their tax burden. As the oft-quoted US judge Learned Hand said: > Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes. Over and over again the Courts have said that there is…

No it's not. That's how change happens. It's still perfectly legal to destroy the environment in many ways, it doesn't mean we can't complain about it. If we don't talk about it, nothing happens.

The problem isn't with the corporations, the problem (if it exists at all!) may be with the legislation.

Complain about the law.

E: CogitoCogito is absolutely right, there are companies spending lots of money around the world to push these regulations. I just seriously doubt that Activision Blizzard is one of these.

Re: Activision Blizzard has moved billions of dollars of profit into tax havens

#12

Post by jrockway »

adonnjohn wrote: post #3
Trias11 wrote: post #2

As long as it is legal - tax avoidance strategies makes perfect sense. Why waste money on buying extra taxes? Tax evasion does not count of course.

I just wish they would go back to making satisfying games.

Blizzard makes the games, Activision avoids the taxes. Synergy!

Re: Activision Blizzard has moved billions of dollars of profit into tax havens

#13

Post by arkitaip »

jakear wrote: post #7
adonnjohn wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just wish they would go back to making satisfying games.

Tax management as a strategy/puzzle game would honestly be a great time.

^ How you know you've become middle-aged.

Re: Activision Blizzard has moved billions of dollars of profit into tax havens

#14

Post by bredren »

FDSGSG wrote: post #9
devwastaken wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Legal /=/ moral

One could argue that they have a moral obligation to their shareholders to minimize their tax burden. I can't even imagine a moral obligation to pay excess taxes, that's simply not how taxes work.

That would be a business or contractual obligation. There is nothing personal about that relationship.

Re: Activision Blizzard has moved billions of dollars of profit into tax havens

#15

Post by rolltiide »

devwastaken wrote: post #8
FDSGSG wrote: post #6

It's downright ridiculous to complain about companies taking perfectly legal steps to reduce their tax burden. As the oft-quoted US judge Learned Hand said: > Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes. Over and over again the Courts have said that there is…

Legal /=/ moral

which applies whether the stated tax rate is 1% or 75%, so a practically useless response

unless the idea is that any written tax rate is moral if it comes from the government, which also means any legal means to mitigate the tax rate is also moral because it comes from the government

Re: Activision Blizzard has moved billions of dollars of profit into tax havens

#16

Post by jayd16 »

FDSGSG wrote: post #11
mattmanser wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No it's not. That's how change happens. It's still perfectly legal to destroy the environment in many ways, it doesn't mean we can't complain about it. If we don't talk about it, nothing happens.

The problem isn't with the corporations, the problem (if it exists at all!) may be with the legislation. Complain about the law. E: CogitoCogito is absolutely right, there are companies spending lots of money around the world to push these regulations. I just seriously doubt that Activision Blizzard is one of these.

It's helpful to have real world examples for context.

Re: Activision Blizzard has moved billions of dollars of profit into tax havens

#17

Post by FDSGSG »

bredren wrote: post #14
FDSGSG wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One could argue that they have a moral obligation to their shareholders to minimize their tax burden. I can't even imagine a moral obligation to pay excess taxes, that's simply not how taxes work.

That would be a business or contractual obligation. There is nothing personal about that relationship.

There's nothing personal about my relationship with the tax authorities.

Re: Activision Blizzard has moved billions of dollars of profit into tax havens

#18

Post by FDSGSG »

jayd16 wrote: post #16
FDSGSG wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem isn't with the corporations, the problem (if it exists at all!) may be with the legislation. Complain about the law. E: CogitoCogito is absolutely right, there are companies spending lots of money around the world to push these regulations. I just seriously doubt that Activision Blizzard is one of these.

It's helpful to have real world examples for context.

Oh, absolutely. But then the headline would be "$country missed out on $amount in taxes because of lacking regulations" or something similar.

Re: Activision Blizzard has moved billions of dollars of profit into tax havens

#19

Post by jayd16 »

FDSGSG wrote: post #9
devwastaken wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Legal /=/ moral

One could argue that they have a moral obligation to their shareholders to minimize their tax burden. I can't even imagine a moral obligation to pay excess taxes, that's simply not how taxes work.

By phrasing it as excess taxes you've already begged the question. You could also phrase it as paying your share or pulling your weight.

Re: Activision Blizzard has moved billions of dollars of profit into tax havens

#20

Post by FDSGSG »

jayd16 wrote: post #19
FDSGSG wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One could argue that they have a moral obligation to their shareholders to minimize their tax burden. I can't even imagine a moral obligation to pay excess taxes, that's simply not how taxes work.

By phrasing it as excess taxes you've already begged the question. You could also phrase it as paying your share or pulling your weight.

Excess taxes, i.e. taxes not required by the law.
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