01-18-2013, 06:25 AM | #106 |
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01-18-2013, 06:27 AM | #107 |
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Amazon legally pays as much tax as they are required to and Amazon customers benefit through lower prices --- everybody wins except some overpaid bureaucrats. More power to Amazon.
People pay way too much taxes in Europe already. Last edited by HansTWN; 01-18-2013 at 07:42 AM. |
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01-18-2013, 06:39 AM | #108 |
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That is not what I was saying, Harry. What I am tired of is when companies are hiding behind their investors/shareholders and everyone takes this for granted.
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01-18-2013, 06:45 AM | #109 |
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A company does have a legal obligation to act in the best interests of its shareholders - that's a simple fact. It could certainly be argued that paying more tax than it needs to is not acting in the best interests of its shareholders.
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01-18-2013, 06:56 AM | #110 |
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01-18-2013, 07:22 AM | #111 |
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Hiding behind?? Investors/shareholders should be by far the most important stakeholders for every company. They are the reason the company exists in the first place.
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01-18-2013, 07:24 AM | #112 | |
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In many cases, the shareholder are the people who founded/built the business in the first place. |
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01-18-2013, 07:33 AM | #113 | |
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Its something most amazon investors think going to happen one of the reason its is valued so highly despite miniscule profits. Personally I think Bezos is taking the investors for a ride but he won't live for ever. |
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01-18-2013, 07:34 AM | #114 | |
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I think those kind of setups need investigating and laws adjusted depending on whether the practice should be allowed or not. Either way, the news reports linked in the original post still seem to be distorting the facts. By discussing and highlighting VAT as though amazon are charging 20% and only paying 3% which isn't the case. They charge their customers 3% and pay 3% (well did) and I don't see how that makes Amazon/any other company immoral as another poster stated. It would have been more interesting and accurate had they reported what you've said for company setup and how companies are using it to pay their taxes in countries with the lowest tax rate. That would likely have been a more boring headline and discussion though |
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01-18-2013, 07:47 AM | #115 | |
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My point is that a government that charges a 20% sales tax is immoral -- and a company that helps its customers to pay less is certainly doing a good thing. They did not charge 20% and pay 3%, THAT would be immoral. Now that doesn't mean that everything else Amazon does is "good". |
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01-18-2013, 07:47 AM | #116 | ||
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01-18-2013, 07:58 AM | #117 |
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Of course it is legal for the company's management not to act in the best interests of its shareholders. And then they will be voted out at the next shareholders' meeting. Would you deposit your money at a bank that says "we don't pay any interest but will deduct 1% from your deposit every month"?
Last edited by HansTWN; 01-18-2013 at 08:40 AM. |
01-18-2013, 08:22 AM | #118 |
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01-18-2013, 08:37 AM | #119 | ||
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01-18-2013, 08:44 AM | #120 | |
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But it is true that the EU is discussing changes to the classification of ebooks under VAT regulations to make their VAT rate match that on paper books. |
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