Jane McCormick asks the fundamental question: would the provision of additional tax data solve the issue of perceived tax avoidance by multinationals?
Much has been said in recent years about the need for more transparency in relation to the tax affairs of multinationals and other businesses. Looking at what ‘transparency’ entails there is a debate to be had about what information is useful. Broadly this could take two forms: on the one hand a better quality narrative to inform readers of financial information; on the other full disclosure of taxable profits tax paid and other financial information for each of the countries in which a group operates (or even publishing copies of tax returns as in say Norway). The latter country by country reporting involves...
