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Old 04-08-2012, 02:53 AM   #61
HappyMartin
Martin Kristiansen
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Posts: 1,546
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Johannesburg
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CommonReader View Post
Eh? The US is one of only three countries (the other ones being Eritrea and the Philippines) that demand even from citizens that live and earn their money permanently abroad to file tax returns and to pay taxes. The US is going after its own citizens so hard that European banks increasingly refuse to open otherwise completely legitimate bank accounts for US citizens.

I don't see what's so patriotic about giving companies the opportunity to exploit tax loopholes that aren't available to companies that operate in the same line of business.
Simply not true. South Africa does as well. In fact most countries do, that is why there is a complex web of double taxation treaties in place around the world. My wife works for Accenture and deals with this stuff all the time as consultants are a very mobile workforce. Opening bank accounts is another issue entirely and not necessarily related to taxation laws

Anyway business will always exploit tax loop holes and government has a duty to identify and close them with legislation. As the trading enviroment changes legislaters need to stay on top of this. It is their job and moaning never fixed a thing. Doing your job will do it though.

When I purchase from Amazon they estimate the taxes for South Africa and collect the money up front. They then refund the difference after our local customs people have made the final assessment. Seems in this case they are trying quite hard to comply. Reason is local tax laws forced them into it. No big deal. If South Africa could do it and Amazon was prepared to work with it then there is no excuse for large first world economies.
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