Interesting Facts

I pay more tax in the UK than Starbucks! (According to the Independent newspaper, the coffee chain Starbucks has not paid any tax in Britain since 2009.  UK sales since 2009 amount to around  £ 1.2 bn, but their UK tax bill was  £ 0.  Yes,  £ 0. I don't even live in the UK, but my little NFP organisation pays more tax than they do.  Star*ucks! (Sorry, but it makes me livid.))

Taiwan has banned repeat tax evaders from  spending more than Tw$2,000 on a single purchase, and they are banned from using expensive transport like taxis or high-speed trains. (Seemingly several people owe more than Tw$10 million ($331,000) in tax, but still live in an extravagant style. so they have been served with "anti-extravagance" orders.  How on earth these orders can be enforced I have no idea.  I mean, what does a taxi driver ask before they'll take you somewhere?)

Corporate tax in Ireland is a mere 12.50%. (Compared with the UK - 28%, Germany - 30% and France - 34.43%. In Ireland the income tax for an individual is between 20% and 41% for the top earners. I wonder if you can set yourself up as a corporation?)