Quote:
Originally Posted by MattW
Let me explain to you again what I'm complaining about: I am complaining about the fact that big multinationals find ways to avoid taxes by schemes that were never intended by the EU and are not available to "us" (us, the people), because the only make sense on the scale of a big corporation.
I am complaining about the fact that these loopholes stay open, because lobbying pays and blackmails politicans into leaving them open. I am complaining because therefore, big corporations have an influence over the very tax system that basically allows them to help decide the amount of taxes they (do not) have to pay.
I am complaining about the fact that as an honest citizen we neither have this opportunity, the choice nor the influence Amazon has on this tax system and that we therefore are treated unfairly.
I am complaining about the fact that a small business owner neither has this opportunity, the choice nor the influence Amazon has on this tax system.
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And who created these "loopholes" and "opportunity" and enabled those "schemes" and "influence" to begin with? Your politicians and legislators. Go blame them. Amazon is just playing within the rules created by others.
I understand the frustration of some at seeing the big companies out-muscle smaller players. But it really is up to the governments to enact the laws that would change things.
Complaining about Amazon in an ebook forum will do no good whereas if you wrote you local government representative it might have a little impact.
And sometimes these "loopholes" and "opportunity" backfire on Amazon as it appears to have done last year. In 2012, Amazon paid an effective corporate tax rate of 78.6%, a particularly high amount, in part due to its strategy of leveraging tax shelters overseas. So it can be a double edged sword for them too.
At any rate, they are just playing within the system and the animosity aimed at them by a few in this thread appears to be excessive. Reserve the animosity for your politicians!
--Pat