Tax

With tax day approaching, a new study released by New Mexico PIRG found that the average New Mexico taxpayer in 2011 would have to shoulder an extra $206 tax burden to make up for revenue lost from corporations and wealthy individuals shifting income to offshore tax havens. The report additionally found that to cover the cost of the corporate abuse of tax havens in 2011, small businesses in New Mexico would have to foot a bill of over $1,106 on average.

A new report released Wednesday, March 21 by U.S. PIRG and Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ) found that thirty unusually aggressive tax dodging corporations have made campaign contributions to 524 (98 percent) sitting members of Congress, and disproportionately to the leadership of both parties and to key committee members. The report, Loopholes for Sale: Campaign Contributions by Corporate Tax Dodgers, examines campaign contributions made by a total of 280 profitable Fortune 500 companies in 2006, 2008, 2010 and to date in 2012.

With the second anniversary approaching of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United case – which opened the floodgates to corporate spending on elections – NMPIRG Education Fund and Citizens for Tax Justice reveal 30 corporations that spent more to lobby Congress than they did in taxes.

The Stop Tax Havens Abuse Act is introduced to close corporate tax loopholes and save taxpayers the $100 Billion in lost revenue from tax dodgers.

We were disappointed to see the introduction of Chairman Camp’s tax reform proposal especially given the revelations regarding the growing number corporate tax avoidance schemes this past year.  The plan would take today’s flawed tax system and make it even worse.

Senator Levin’s new report reaffirms that rewarding companies that artificially shifted profits overseas with special tax treatment is a wasteful giveaway to corporate executives that sacrifices deficit reduction for no public benefit to the economy.