Taxation and Corporate Social Responsibility

Taxation and CSR
Lillian Nabwire, Member
It is unruly that tax evasion has become uncontrollable in our large organizations today as this bounces back to us through a poor economy. The prevailing attitude among large corporations currently seems to be that aggressive tax planning is justified:

• Because of competitiveness considerations: “everyone does it”. But wait, is that we really want to be like everyone? Think about it!
• Because it enhances shareholder value. Paying taxes is seen a cost that reduces corporate profits, and this negatively impacts the value of the shares.

Organizations should take responsibility and ensure taxes are duly paid. This comes handy with ethics in our organizations and any manager, CEO, representative should acknowledge the importance of paying taxes as they may fall due.
It is to the organization's advantage to avoid running away from law and to fearlessly operate knowing they are tax compliant.
Panama papers may be up to the task to result in responsible tax planning by companies but full engagement of company managers in charge is also needed. Paying taxes is what organizations should give back to society through improved economic environment.

Over Taxation to Pay Those Who Does not Work
Unre Visagie, Member
High taxes are responsible to force defensive behaviors.
We simply move our means of production so that more capital can create more jobs, rather than pay people to sit at home?

Taxation and CSR at Banks
zephir, Member
When a bank buys planes that an airline will rent, that is not seen as a tax evasion. But in fact the bank doesn't have any use of planes in order to perform its activities. The sole purpose of buying planes is to create an asset that will be amortized by the bank which in turn will reduce the tax base of the bank. The purpose is, for the bank, to reduce its tax.
Is this moral? Who can decide? Is this an aggressive tax planning or an active tax responsible behaviour? I think the answer is far more political then technical or ethical? Will the G8, G20 seat and state the rule for the "market". Money may well be considered as a resource no more and no less than a plane. Who will explain why that is or is not the case?

Taxation and CSR in Lithuania
Valentina Burksiene, Member
It seems that in Lithuania till now it is (and hopefully will remain) only a storm in a teacup. No interesting names of politicians were found on that list. But finding this would be useful for our parties, as in Lithuania we have election of the parliament this October.

Multinational Companies, Taxation and CSR
nadeem zia, Member
In emerging economies the level of corruption is so high, the regulator has no authority to implement laws and regulations in a true sense. The word 'transparency' is still missing that's why the majority of politicians involved in the Panama leaks are from developing countries.
However, there has been some public pressure in some places like Iceland where the Prime Minister had to step down from PMship. But these corrupt politicians and MNC's have become so powerful that their impact on the society is very large. That's why country's relax their laws to favour them.
The Panama leaks may be a beginning for socially responsible tax planning but may not be enough to improve socially responsible behaviours of some immoral individuals. MNC's have always been at front foot in tax avoidance by exploiting loopholes in regulatory frameworks.

The Role of Society in Taxation and CSR
j.a. karman, Member
Marvelous: "THE IMPACT OF TAX. Taxes have a contradictive meaning:
- On the one hand, taxes are like any other costs for a company.
- However on the other hand, they are an economic contribution to the society in which the business is conducted."
It has left out the definition of the society. Once it was the local area more easily covered by national governments (industrial age).
I see the governments as the entity of the society. But by now society is far more global and global companies are taking the lead and manipulate national governments (the societies). The OECD, EU and other global organisations can start a reaction for balancing those unequality of powers. The Panama-papers are just a whistle-blower. I am not sure about the effect but there is a good chance on change. An equal level for entrepeneurs at all locations would not be harmful for anybody. Small and medium businesses and startups have no tax evasion options.

Taxation and Corporate Social Responsibility‏
Mohammed kabashi - Geophysicist, Member
Jane Frecknall Hughes and Keith W. Glaister (2009) in their article "Taxation and Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from UK Firms" found the following things related to taxation:
1. FINANCIAL – “issues of CSR cannot be separated from issues of profit, and indeed must be identified with the bottom line” (after Capaldi 2005, p. 414).
2. LAW – tax is primarily governed by law, so how can a firm go beyond the law in any sense? May choose not to engage in certain practices or use available incentives/reliefs?
3. CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP – duty of a citizen to pay tax – quantum, not quality - contradiction?
A. Corporate social performance – how to measure?
B. Corporate philanthropy: how can it apply? A matter of perspective? Corrupt/incompetent regime mitigates against tax payments?
4. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE – some conflict here.
5. BUSINESS ETHICS of tax avoidance.

Issues with Locating Tax Within CSR
Mohammed kabashi - Geophysicist, Member
Here are some problems, when we're thinking about Corporate Social Responsibility in relation to taxation.

• How widely should we interpret ‘Social’ – specific groups of people (e.g.; employees, shareholders, suppliers, contractors), people living or working near the company's place of operations, all of the people in the country in question, the world at large? Are the people in a state (society) identified with the state, distinct from it or a surrogate for it? Tax paid to the state is not the same as benefit to society. See also: stakeholder mapping.
• CSR can also affect people by omission – setting up a business in one place rather than in others may disadvantage those others (Williams, 2007, P. 7).
• Issue of not taking all opportunities offered. This may lead to law suits and/or a bad reputation of being ‘bad for business’.
• Link to purpose of company – make a profit/money, provide goods/services/employment

Guidance with Locating Tax Within CSR
Mohammed kabashi - Geophysicist, Member
Commentators do generally agree on certain concepts being relevant to CSR:
1. TRANSPARENCY/OPENNESS; is there necessarily a problem if you disclose what you do, whatever that may be, and don't misrepresent it? What is the ‘right’ amount of what is arithmetically correct?
2. COMMUNICATION; (at least) of the information to stakeholders who have a right to know.
3. ACCOUNTABILITY; Government must be accountable too about how they spend the means and invest or use them to attract investment, etc.

CSR is confounded by:
1. Lack of standard as to what companies should do in the context of CSR (NB ISO14001).
2. Several possible models and standards for reporting CSR.
3. No requirement of proof; i.e., no requirement for audit.
4. Conflict.