... ask MNers to boycott Starbucks?

[legoballoon]

Personally, I won't be spending any money there again.

When I read the 'we pay our fair share of tax' statement, I almost choked on my (home made) hot chocolate. It's one law for the rich, another for us now is it?!

I think we should support small, UK-based independent coffee shops. Let's support businesses that generate wealth that is shared by local people.

Solo what is it you think that they owe us in tax? There isn't any way of defining that number.

Given they pay a high-ish level of corporation tax in the US where they are headquartered, listed and have the bulk of their infrastructure, they do make a contribution to the wider economy of their environment. They will also be paying business rates on their properties, a tax which has its roots in an estimate of the benefit from local infrastructure to local business.

Solo, they do pay tax, just not here. Why should they pay for anything for which they have no liability?

Because they are a multinational and you are not. A multinational has to decide where its HQ is. Starbucks is headquartered in the USA and pays tax there, the UK based companies you mention pay tax here. You employ an accountant to minimise your tax liability do you not?

I too will boycott. yyy don't tell me how legal it is, it is immoral.

Starbucks would not hesitate to use UK courts to protect their brand or commercial rights (courts paid for by the tax payer).

Being a multinational does not give you carte blanche to not pay tax, it's the transfer of equity between subs using creative accounting that has disgusted people. Taxes ensure the stability of a country that allows Starbucks to grow (and they are growing) and operate.

Fuck them. Yes I know there are heaps of others out there but if this serves as a cautionary tale to make another company think twice about blindly following a tax consultancies advice without weighting up the impact to their precious brand then something has been achieved.

I'm more than happy to boycott - I can't afford their prices anyway! (and I pay more tax than them!)

Shall also boycott. Lots of other places to get a much better coffee anyhow

Can't stand Starbucks, never been in one, it isn't real coffee anyway!

Does that count?

Starbucks seem to be always full of chavs anyway these days.

I'm sure this has been said upthread, but just in case - Starbucks has not been assessed as liable to pay any more tax than they have done - they have no tax bill to pay!

Companies pay tax on profits not turnover - they post no profit therefore there is no UK tax to pay. The sums are really simple.

If the HMRC don't like their transfer pricing regime they can challenge it under section 84 of the income and corporation taxes act. As hey haven't done over the last 14 years, one can only imagine they are content.

Beck I think HMRC did investigate the transfer pricing in 2009/10 - and I assume were either satisfied or requested changes which were then agreed and implemented.

Thanks, Doctrine, - so even more proof that HMRC are happy.

From what I have read, Starbuck's effective rate of CT has been just over 30% in the past few years, just not paid in the UK.

Highest rate of CT in UK is 24%, set to fall to 23% next year.

CT in US is 35% (no idea how they calculate CT payable though) and effective rate for most companies is apparently about 31%.

(Doesn't this whole thing have a bit of a sense of deja vu, though? Americans and British arguing about tax on hot beverages?)

He he merrymouse

For this sit in at TopShop: are you sure it wasn't just lots of bored boyfriends hanging around on a Saturday afternoon while their girlfriends try on jeans?

at Merrymouse.

Can people stop posting 'yy I will boycott. I don't go in there anyway as their coffee is shit'.
it is making me weep.

Or at least tell me how boycott a company you don't use.
Do you walk past shouting slogans or do you tut at anyone holding a cup?

Shall we hold a protest dumping latte in the Thames merry mouse? We can have a party

Well, as I'm now boycotting Boden (having never ever bought anything from here in my life), it has consisted in making a slightly off face when a colleague was complaining about missing the daily discount sale

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!

HELL YEAH!

I am off to the cafe in a minute. I am going to walk past Starbucks and roll my eyes. i may even go

I don't know fusam - who is buying these lattes? I think the people on the thread currently proposing a boycott (who never go there anyway) would have to nick the gingerbread lattes From the 3 people who admit they do. It would all end in tears.