No, I'm saying that Starbucks operate coffee houses in the UK, as such they are operating a business within UK borders. Regardless of some status as a homeless multinational they are operating a coffee shop business within the UK.
It makes no sense to me that a local or national chain should be at a disadvantage because they pay corporation tax in the UK, when a multinational can essentially run the same business but spirit away the profits when tax-time comes around.
That's what I mean by the government holding the keys to the market, it should be possible to say that if you want to operate here and have access to our (clearly lucrative) market then you run by the same rules as everyone else, giving an honest account of the profit and loss made on the business in this country.
"The avoided taxes are corporate."
So? The corporation is operating a business in the UK.
VAT is a tax on the purchaser, not the company.
PAYE is a tax on the employee, not the company.
Yes, they pay 'business rates'. As they are required to.
And no, I'm not suggesting what the are doing is illegal, I'm suggesting it should be made so.
The benefits of Starbucks operating the UK without paying corporation tax is debatable. Is it really improving the coffers if people would go for coffee anyway, in a place that does contribute back to the society it's operating in?
It makes no sense to me that a local or national chain should be at a disadvantage because they pay corporation tax in the UK, when a multinational can essentially run the same business but spirit away the profits when tax-time comes around.
That's what I mean by the government holding the keys to the market, it should be possible to say that if you want to operate here and have access to our (clearly lucrative) market then you run by the same rules as everyone else, giving an honest account of the profit and loss made on the business in this country.
"The avoided taxes are corporate."
So? The corporation is operating a business in the UK.
VAT is a tax on the purchaser, not the company. PAYE is a tax on the employee, not the company. Yes, they pay 'business rates'. As they are required to. And no, I'm not suggesting what the are doing is illegal, I'm suggesting it should be made so.
The benefits of Starbucks operating the UK without paying corporation tax is debatable. Is it really improving the coffers if people would go for coffee anyway, in a place that does contribute back to the society it's operating in?