An engaging and enlightening account of taxation told through lively, dramatic, and sometimes ludicrous stories drawn from around the world and across the ages Governments have always struggled to tax in ways that are effective and tolerably fair. Sometimes they fail grotesquely, as when, in 1898, the British ignited a rebellion in Sierra Leone by imposing a tax on huts-and, in repressing it, ended up burning the very huts they intended to tax. Sometimes they succeed astonishingly, as when, in eighteenth-century Britain, a cut in the tax on tea massively increased revenue. In this entertaining book, two leading authorities on taxation, Michael Keen and Joel Slemrod, provide a fascinating and informative tour through these and many other episodes in tax history, both preposterous and dramatic-from the plundering described by Herodotus and an Incan tax payable in lice to the (misremembered) Boston Tea Party and the scandals of the Panama Papers. Along the way, readers meet a colorful cast of tax rascals, and even a few tax heroes. While it is hard to fathom the inspiration behind such taxes as one on ships that tended to make them sink, Keen and Slemrod show that yesterday's tax systems have more in common with ours than we may think. Georgian England's window tax now seems quaint, but was an ingenious way of judging wealth unobtrusively. And Tsar Peter the Great's tax on beards aimed to induce the nobility to shave, much like today's carbon taxes aim to slow global warming. Rebellion, Rascals, and Revenue is a surprising and one-of-a-kind account of how history illuminates the perennial challenges and timeless principles of taxation-and how the past holds clues to solving the tax problems of today.

This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International licence. It is free to read at Oxford Scholarship Online and offered as a free PDF download from OUP and selected open access locations. Illicit financial flows constitute a global phenomenon of massive but uncertain scale, which erodes government revenues and drives corruption in countries rich and poor. In 2015, the countries of the world committed to a target to reduce illicit flows, as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. But five years later, there is still no agreement on how that target should be monitored or how it will be achieved. Illicit financial flows occur through many different channels, whether they involve laundering the proceeds of crime or shifting profits of multinational companies. These deliberately hidden cross-border movements of assets and income streams depend on a set of common tools including opaque company accounts, legal vehicles for anonymous ownership, and the secrecy jurisdictions that provide these series. The overall effect is to reduce the revenue available to states and to weaken the quality of governance - leading to less money to support human development, and a lower likelihood of funds being well spent. Estimating Illicit Financial Flows: A Critical Guide to the Data, Methodologies, and Findings is authored by two of the economists most closely involved in the process to develop UN indicators of illicit financial flows. In it, they offer a critical survey of the existing data and methodologies, identifying the most promising avenues for future improvement and setting out their own proposals. They cover a range of corrupt practices aimed at obtaining immunity or impunity from criminal law, from market regulation, and from taxation.

Governments often use direct subsidies or tax credits to encourage investment and promote economic growth and other development objectives. Properly designed and implemented, these incentives can advance a wide range of policy objectives (increasing employment, promoting sustainability, and reducing inequality). Yet since design and implementation are complicated, incentives have been associated with rent-seeking and wasteful public spending. This collection illustrates the different types and uses of these initiatives worldwide and examines the institutional steps that extend their value. By combining economic analysis with development impacts, regulatory issues, and policy options, these essays show not only how to increase the mobility of capital so that cities, states, nations, and regions can better attract, direct, and retain investments but also how to craft policy and compromise to ensure incentives endure.

Save tons of money with the secrets to avoiding income taxes

Could it be possible to run your business without paying federal and state income tax for at least 36 months? What if you’re not in business–how about reducing or completely wiping out your income tax? It may sound too good to be true, but the answer is YES. In this easy-to-use, plain-English book, Robert A. Cooke shows how you can legally use the tax rules to your advantage. Doing Business Tax-Free, Second Edition is packed with tax-saving concepts and ideas and clear explanations on how to apply them to your own situation.

Numerous examples help you understand crucial tax-planning maneuvers and form a game plan, which, with a little professional fine-tuning, will alleviate your income tax burden. Plus, you’ll save even more money by learning how to keep professional fees to a minimum and shorten your time in the tax preparer’s office.

New to the Second Edition:

• Recomputes examples involving computation of individual income taxes with year 2000 tax rates
• Features updated sections on S corporations, limited liability companies, and loss carryovers
• Covers the new, simpler "check-the-box" rules for satisfying IRS requirements for taxation of a limited liability company
• Guarantees postings of future significant changes to the tax rules regarding S corporations on the author’s Web site, www.robertcooke.com–which you can check for updates as you read the book
• Includes revised rules for home offices

This revised edition of Robert V. Andelson's" Land Value Taxation Around the World "is the first title in the new series 'Studies in Economic Reform and Social Justice', sponsored by" The American Journal of Economics and Sociology,"

Andelson has provided an interdisciplinary, international collection of essays, which has been in the making for twenty years. This is not a book on the history of economic thought but rather a book about the theory and practice of land reform and an historical summary of efforts to apply land value taxation in different countries around the world.

The collection is built around the premise that to tax an activity is to discourage it, and that when people improve land that is under their control, governments should not tax those improvements. Only when land appreciates through no effort on the part of those who manage the land should the government impose a tax. Since land is inelastic in supply, such a tax will have minimal distortionary effects on the economy. These insights are not well understood around the world but they do sometimes guide tax policy and often when they do, they produce salutory effects on economic development. Contributors to this collection argue that patterns of economic behavior are similar regardless of race, religion, or geographical location.

A practical guide to avoiding accidental philanthropy and controlling your tax destiny

Written by Daniel Nigito-a financial services expert whose programs have saved families millions in tax dollars and created millions more for charities across the United States-this timely guide will show you how to use the simple, yet powerful strategy known as "charitable leverage" to regain control of your financial life.

This proven approach, which allows you to become a partner with charity while gaining control over your tax destiny "and" providing for you and your family, taps into the unique tax characteristics of two financial instruments-the Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) and Cash Value Life Insurance (CVLI)-in order to achieve some amazing goals.Offers insights on increasing your current income while paying less tax on itDiscusses how to develop real asset protection without moving your money offshore or using complicated and often questionable tax schemesDetails how you can build a personal tax-deductible retirement account that does not interfere with other retirement plans

The best way to avoid becoming an accidental philanthropist is by understanding how to make taxes work for "you." "The Power of Leveraging the Charitable Remainder Trust" will show you how to do this and, in the process, add meaning to your money.

How to save hundreds—even thousands—of dollars a year in property taxes You can’t escape paying property taxes, but you can avoid paying more than you have to. This authoritative new guide explains how. Written by an experienced real estate counselor, Challenge Your Taxes helps you evaluate your property assessment and pinpoint any inaccuracies that, once amended, could dramatically reduce your tax bill. With proven guidelines and practical tips, you’ll learn how to determine what your property is really worth, qualify your property for a deduction, and—in the case of an unfair assessment—prepare and present a successful appeal. Here’s where you’ll find complete details on:

• Property valuation—fair market value, comparable sales and cost approach, amenity considerations
• Assessors—who they are, what they do, and what they look for
• Checking your property information—study your property record file, confirm property category, use sales/assessment ratio to establish fair value
• Common assessment errors—miscalculated land area, incorrect judgment of condition, comparable sales ignored, wrong zoning classification
• Assessment appeals—summary of procedure, presentation checklist, the appeal board, abatements

Tax by Design identifies what makes a good tax system for an open developed economy in the 21st century and suggests how the UK tax system could be reformed to move in that direction. The recommendations stress the importance of neutrality and transparency in tax design. It draws on the expert evidence from the commissioned chapters and commentaries in Dimensions of Tax Design. It also acknowledges the growing importance of globalised markets and multinational corporations as well as the challenges created by changing population demographics, the growth of new technologies, and the broadened objectives of policy makers. The Commission's work was directed by: Timothy Besley Richard Blundell Malcolm Gammie James Poterba The Commission's editorial team: Stuart Adam Stephen Bond Robert Chote Paul Johnson Gareth Myles

The most comprehensive and ambitious effort I've seen to compile and discuss, in one resource, all of the issues and information about this crucial topic. Nonprofit executives, managers, legal counsel, and trustees all can benefit from this useful and informative book.
?J. David Seay, vice president, secretary, and counsel, United Hospital Fund
Bookman provides nonprofit leaders with a comprehensive examination of federal, state, and local laws affecting nonprofit organizations and recommAnds actions nonprofits can take to protect their organizations tax-exempt status.
Using case studies extensively, he explains such crucial matters as preparing for an IRS audit, reporting unrelated business income, responding to claims of unfair competition, and fighting challenges to nonprofits' property tax exemption.
Protecting Your Organization's Tax Exempt Status demonstrates how federal tax law applies to specific segments of the nonprofit sector. Discusses actual IRS audits of nonprofits, shows how nonprofits can develop positive community relations, and reviews congressional hearings on federal tax exemptions for nonprofits.

A challenge the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) faces is balancing efforts to minimise taxpayer burden with efforts to ensure compliance with the tax code. Small businesses are a vital source of economic growth in the United States. Reducing their costs for complying with the tax code may free up resources to expand, hire new employees, and contribute to the growth of the U.S. economy. This book describes characteristics of the small business population; describes how characteristics of a small business affect compliance burden; describes how IRS integrates small business compliance burden considerations in decision-making; and assesses IRS's plan for evaluating its payment card pilot.

Tax Strategies for the Small Business Owner: Reduce Your Taxes and Fatten Your Profits will help the small business owner increase profits while feeling more comfortable dealing with taxes. It begins by looking at the often overlooked critical decision small business owners face when they start a business: the choice of business entity. The book then examines all the deductions that a business owner can take legally to reduce taxes. It also provides advice business owners need to make good tax-related decisions: Should I lease or buy? Should I hire an employee or outsource the task? How much will buying a building reduce my taxes and for how long? Many people freeze up when they are forced to prepare or even think about taxes. Some receive a notice from the IRS and put it aside: They're too scared to open it Yet taxes for the most part follow common sense rules. You just need to know what they are and how they affect your decisions.In this book, readers will learn about the different business entities, the different taxes you must deal with (primarily income taxes), documentation procedures, how to work with a tax professional, how to handle an audit, and, in general, how to use the U.S. Tax Code to your advantage. Among other things, readers learn to take full advantage of tax benefits and avoid potholes hidden in things like: * Startup and ongoing expenses * Cost of goods sold * Depreciation * Payroll * Retirement plans In short, Tax Strategies for the Small Business Owner will not only help you relax when you deal with your taxes--it'll show you how to use tax law to your financial benefit. What you'll learn *How to choose a business entity that's right for your business. *The requirements for deducting expenses. *What you can deduct (and what you can't). *How to fund your retirement with help from the business. *Using depreciation rules to reduce taxable income. *Having benefit plans (medical and retirement) while complying with tax laws. *How to take the tax implications into account when making strategic business decisions. *What to do when you hear from the IRS.*How to determine whether you need a tax professional to assist you. Who this book is for Taxes for the Small Business Owner is designed for owners of small to medium-sized businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs--millions of people in the U.S. This practical guide on taxation is designed for those who want to lower their tax bills by maximizing deductions. It will appeal to any owner or manager who wants to pay less tax--legally.

Congress and the Obama Administration have expressed interest in addressing multinational corporations' ability to shift profits into low- and no-tax countries with little corresponding change in business operations. Several factors appear to be driving this interest. Economists have estimated that profit shifting results in significant tax revenue losses annually, implying that reducing the practice could help address deficit and debt concerns. Profit shifting and base erosion are also believed to distort the allocation of capital as investment decisions are overly influenced by taxes. Fairness concerns have also been raised. If multinational corporations can avoid or reduce their taxes, other taxpayers (including domestically focused businesses and individuals) may perceive the tax system as unfair. At the same time, policymakers are also concerned that American corporations could be unintentionally harmed if careful consideration is not given to the proper way to reduce profit shifting. This book is intended to assist Congress as it considers what, if any, action to curb profit shifting. This book discusses the methods used for shifting profits only to the extent that it is necessary for interpreting the data or discussing policy options. In addition, this book addresses tax havens; basic concepts and policy issues of U.S. international corporate taxation; and reforms of U.S. international taxation.

This book contains an explanation of the major provisions of the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes as they apply to transfers in 2014. It provides basic principles regarding the computation of these three transfer taxes. It also provides a history, description, and analysis of the Federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes (also referred to as the "wealth transfer taxes"), as well as a description of selected reform proposals.

While most would agree that taxation should be fair, views as to what constitutes a fair tax vary. Economists and political philosophers since the days of Adam Smith have recognized two broad concepts of fair taxation. One such principle is known as the benefit principle, under which taxes should be levied in proportion to the benefits received from the public sector. Under this principle, it is the government's job to view taxes as the prices that would prevail in an actual market for the government service. The second principle is known as the ability to pay principle. This principle focuses only on the tax side of the budget, and views taxation as imposing an aggregate cost that must be apportioned in a manner that taxes those with equal ability to pay equally, and imposes greater burdens on those with greater ability to pay. This book discusses the fairness and tax policies in the U.S., and provides the 2011 distribution of household income and federal taxes.

This book examines questions of change and inertia in the context of the longstanding grievances over excessive taxation in rural China. How can some changes be sustained, whilst others cannot? How can a longstanding administrative practice be changed or even terminated, especially when previous attempts at change have failed? Using extensive interview data with local and central bureaucrats, Li's findings highlight the role of parallel developments and agency in the change process, as well as the prevalence of contingency and uncertainty. It also elegantly blends the narrative of the rural tax and administrative reforms with theoretical discussions to deepen our understanding of policy process and institutional change in 21st century China. Despite the authoritarian political system, the Chinese state-in-action which emerges from this book sees actions stemming from both the central and local levels, mediated by strategic design as well as contingency. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of Chinese Studies, political science and policy and development studies.

Identity theft tax refund fraud is a persistent, evolving threat to honest taxpayers and tax administration. It occurs when an identity thief files a fraudulent tax return using a legitimate taxpayer's identifying information and claims a refund. This book examines what IRS knows about the extent of IDT refund fraud and additional actions IRS can take to combat IDT refund fraud using third-party information from, for example, employers and financial institutions. The book also assesses the quality of IRS's IDT refund fraud cost estimates, and IRS's progress in developing processes to enhance taxpayer authentication

In recent decades countries around the world have seen a wide diversity of tax reforms, both in major systematic changes, and through more specific areas of tax, such as value-added and income tax. The results of these reforms, however, have been unequal, and many issues remain unresolved. With advances in globalization, technology and regional integration, the issue of adapting tax systems in developing countries to new economic environments is becoming ever more pressing. This research review surveys the best research from the past three decades on tax reform in developing countries to highlight the state of knowledge of tax reform, analyse useful policy options and present new and critical approaches to this critical issue.

Women who encounter the criminal justice system are far more likely to have experienced domestic or sexual abuse than the wider female population. Despite widespread recognition of the link between a woman's victimisation and her involvement in crime, the relationship between the two is still not well understood. Gendered Justice? illustrates how a woman's involvement in crime can manifest as a by-product of her attempts to cope with, survive, or escape domestic abuse. Referencing the first UK-based research of its kind, Roberts explores how a woman's involvement in crime can be explained or contextualised by her experience of domestic abuse. Drawing on the experiences of women serving community-based sentences, all of whom had been subjected to domestic abuse, the author analyses a variety of situations which illustrate how women can become involved in crime when their abuse perpetrator is not present, after the abusive relationship has ended or even years after the abuse has ceased, yet their actions can still be attributed to their victimisation. She also demonstrates how perpetrators of abuse use women's involvement in the criminal justice system as a further weapon of abuse. Built upon the foundations of women's real-life experiences, which have real-world implications, Gendered Justice? introduces a range of recommendations and implications for both policy and practice in the field of criminal justice.

The threats posed by global climate change are widely recognized and carbon emmissions are the major source of greenhouse gases accumulating in the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels causes long-lasting, pervasive damages, costly to those of us alive today and even more to our children and our children's children. The United States is the second largest carbon emitting country in the world and should play a key role in global efforts to reduce emissions. Paying for Pollution incisively examines the very real costs-economic and social-of climate change and the challenges of concerted action to reduce future losses due to damages of higher temperatures and more extreme weather. Gilbert E. Metcalf argues that there is a convergence of social, economic, environmental, and political forces that provides an opening for a new approach to climate policy, one based on market principles that can appeal to politicians across the political spectrum. After all, markets work best when the price of a good reflects all its costs. Metcalf suggests that a thoughtfully and politically sensitive designed carbon tax could also contribute to an improved tax system, something desired by Republican and Democratic politicians alike. That is, a carbon tax increases fiscal flexibility by providing new revenues to finance reforms to the income tax that improve the fairness of the tax code and contribute to economic growth. Metcalf compares the benefits of a carbon tax to other potential policies, such as cap and trade, to reduce the threats of climate change. None, he shows, are as effective, efficient, and fair as a carbon tax.

We are well aware of the rise of the 1% as the rapid growth of economic inequality has put the majority of the world's wealth in the pockets of fewer and fewer. One much-discussed solution to this imbalance is to significantly increase the rate at which we tax the wealthy. But with an enormous amount of the world's wealth hidden in tax havens in countries like Switzerland, Luxembourg, and the Cayman Islands this wealth cannot be fully accounted for and taxed fairly. No one, from economists to bankers to politicians, has been able to quantify exactly how much of the world's assets are currently hidden until now. Gabriel Zucman is the first economist to offer reliable insight into the actual extent of the world's money held in tax havens. And it's staggering. In The Hidden Wealth of Nations, Zucman offers an inventive and sophisticated approach to quantifying how big the problem is, how tax havens work and are organized, and how we can begin to approach a solution. His research reveals that tax havens are a quickly growing danger to the world economy. In the past five years, the amount of wealth in tax havens has increased over 25% there has never been as much money held offshore as there is today. This hidden wealth accounts for at least $7.6 trillion, equivalent to 8% of the global financial assets of households. Fighting the notion that any attempts to vanquish tax havens are futile, since some countries will always offer more advantageous tax rates than others, as well the counter-argument that since the financial crisis tax havens have disappeared, Zucman shows how both sides are actually very wrong. In The Hidden Wealth of Nations he offers an ambitious agenda for reform, focused on ways in which countries can change the incentives of tax havens. Only by first understanding the enormity of the secret wealth can we begin to estimate the kind of actions that would force tax havens to give up their practices. Zucman's work has quickly become the gold standard for quantifying the amount of the world's assets held in havens. In this concise book, he lays out in approachable language how the international banking system works and the dangerous extent to which the large-scale evasion of taxes is undermining the global market as a whole. If we are to find a way to solve the problem of increasing inequality, The Hidden Wealth of Nations is essential reading.

This handbook is a concise guide for all those who aim at obtaining a basic knowledge of European tax law. Designed for students, it should be useful as well for experienced international tax specialists with little knowledge of European law, European law specialists who are reluctant to approach the technicalities of direct taxation and non-Europeans who deal with Europe for business or academic reasons and need to understand the foundations of European tax law. The authors also consider that this book can be useful to academics without a legal background in order to approach the technical issues raised by European Union tax law. During the past two years the growing role of state aids and EU fundamental rights have confirmed the trend that steers them towards having an equivalent impact on direct taxation as compared to the one traditionally had by fundamental freedoms. The developments of secondary law have been more marginal instead, confirming the difficulties in producing secondary legislation on direct taxes. This edition contains selected relevant information available as of 30 June 2020 and retains all of the features and tools contained in the previous editions.