Digital taxThe commission does not deny that it is working – indeed has been working for a while on a digital tax proposal, as instructed by ministers, but officials say any figures are evolving. Tax avoidanceThe commission points to a July 2016 Eurobarometer survey estimating that 75 per cent of citizens want the EU to move forward on tax avoidance. This is a qualitative change in the environment and one that should prompt a fundamental change in attitude in “tax haven” countries such as Ireland. Despite the fact that half of all US corporate profits from overseas are now located in tax havens such as Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Jersey. But US prevarication may suit Ireland whose current enthusiasm for taxing digital business and for the OECD, some suspect, may be less than wholehearted.

Source: The Irish Times February 28, 2018 15:00 UTC