How Much Are Fortune 500 Companies Saving in Taxes?
It’s a well-known fact that many of the richest companies in America have become so financially successful thanks in large part to the tax-savings methods they employ, not the least of which is keeping large amounts of income overseas. These American companies have no problem doing business stateside, but because the U.S. has some of the highest corporate tax rates in the world, they can save millions in taxes by leaving that money in the country where it was earned.
In fact, according to a recent report from Citizens for Tax Justice, the largest Fortune 500 companies in America are storing as much as $2.5 trillion in foreign countries, which is $400 million more than last year. This is not hidden money, stored away in secret bank accounts, mind you, but rather revenue legally earned and held overseas. So why not bring the money back to the U.S.? As long as it stays overseas where it was earned the IRS can’t tax those earnings.
Of course, some people feel that isn’t fair, including the organization Citizens for Tax Justice, which wants the government to tax all income earned by U.S. companies, no matter what country it’s earned in. The problem with that scenario is that companies might decide to simply move their headquarters to other countries in order to avoid this extra tax, which could cost the country even more tax revenue, as well as jobs.
President Obama has recently proposed a 19 percent global minimum tax, which means any foreign subsidiary of a U.S. company that pays at least 19 percent in overseas taxes would be allowed to bring that money back to America without being taxed again stateside.
Of course, both current presidential candidates have their opinion on the matter. Donald Trump wants to significantly lower the corporate tax rate and combine it with a one-time 10 percent tax on any income being held in foreign countries. This could help give companies more of an incentive to bring the money home to the U.S. Hillary Clinton reportedly wants to keep the current standards but she also wants to add an “exit tax” for companies that leave.
Either way, it’s likely that companies will continue to keep foreign earnings overseas unless the government creates a more tax-friendly environment for American corporations.
You also might like the article Study Shows Benefit of Lower Corporate Tax
http://fortune.com/2016/10/06/fortune-500-tax-haven/
Gemlust | Rénee Kubryk
About Rénee Kubryk Rénee Kubryk has always had a passion for Gems. At a young age Rénee found herself working at a jewelry store owned by her parents. She received her degree in nursing from City University of New York City College and later a Master’s in Human Resources & Organizational Development from the…
Academic Deep Learning | Dr. Karen Walker
Transcript, Academic Deep Learning | Dr. Karen Walker Alan Welcome back. I’m here today with Dr. Karen Murray Walker. She’s the author of the book, The Deep Learning academic success planner. And we’re on the campus of Southern Virginia University. Dr. Walker, welcome to the show. Thank you. So I’d like your background, you know…
Jenny Oaks Baker- Developing Talents
About Jenny Oaks Baker America’s Violinist, Jenny Oaks Baker is a Grammy Nominated, Billboard No. 1 performer and recording artist. She received her Master of Music degree from the renowned Juilliard School in New York City and her Bachelor’s Degree in violin performance from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. She has performed as…
How the Internet Became Commercial: Patterns in the Deployment of Technology | Shane Greenstein
About Shane Greenstein Shane Greenstein is a Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard School of Business and is the MBA Class of 1957 Professor of Business Administration. Professor Greenstein is also co-director of the program on the economics of digitization at The National Bureau of Economic Research. Professor Greenstein is the author of…