You might also be interested in
Replies (3)
Please login or register to join the discussion.
and transfer pricing ?
any progress on paying tax in countries where sales are made and doing aways with all the 'franchise' wheezes?
EU Stereotypes?
Sadly, the success or failure of a policy like this depends upon how the individual countries implement it.
As ever, we immediately revert to national stereotypes. When these policies become law -
* the British will immediately implement it with a raft of severe penalties for failure to comply. David Cameron will add tax evasion to GDP (we already have prostitution and drug dealing) to show how the UK economy is recovering
* the Irish will implement it with the best intentions but only as long as it doesn't interfere with the Dublin free zone
* the Germans will implement it perfectly and simply expect that everyone will comply - there is no alternative
* the French will ignore it
* the Italians will have several attempts at getting the legislation through Parliament but as this is done over three or four successive governments it will generally fail. Then they ignore it
* the Greeks aren't really interested in the first place unless they get a subsidy
* the Spanish will be divided in Madrid and Barcelona over how properly to implement it and so it will become an argument about Catalan sovereignty
* nobody knows what the Belgians will do.
In case anyone hasn't spotted it, this is a JOKE. Just thought I should point that out for all the PC brigade out there.
and the alternative is
Land Value Tax. But then the current system does create a hell of a lot of work for (tax) accountants and (tax) lawyers - and these new regulations will go on doing that.
Moreover these new regulations smack to me of the overbearing state. The state simply doesn't need to know that much about us to collect enough tax to run itself and public services. The state needs to introduce a 100% Land Value Tax (perhaps in stages) and enforce it, which it could. I hope, maybe, this attempt to reach into the details of everyone's personal affairs may even create outrage and perhaps the space, after 100 years, for LVT to get a hearing again. Perhaps it will come down to have an LVT, or, have the taxman, routinely, know everything about you.
Henry George - Progress and Poverty.